France firefighters hopeful, as Spain reports 'almost no flames'

Firefighters in France on Thursday were hopeful a massive forest fire was no longer spreading, as Spain said there were "almost no flames" left near Madrid but a new fire broke out near the Portuguese border. Europe has been gripped by successive heatwaves and a major drought this year, which scientists have attributed to human-caused climate change. "There's thunder, that's good," said a firefighter at the command post set up in the town's sports hall. - New Spanish fire -In Spain, wildfires threatening areas near Madrid had stopped expanding with "almost no flames left", the prefect's office said. Just outside the town of San Martin de Valdeiglesias, a firefighting station was surrounded by scorched land, an AFP reporter said.