Last winter and much of spring in western Europe was very wet, encouraging heavy growth of trees, shrubs and other vegetation. As a result of the drought conditions, vegetation became tinder and the risk of wildfires soared, leading to a series of wildfires scientists have described as “firewaves”. View image in fullscreen A pyrocumulonimbus, or ‘fire cloud’, in the Fontainebleau forest region, about 37 miles south of Paris, France. Photograph: Emma Da Silva/APView image in fullscreen Firefighters use controlled burning to halt a wildfire near Cebreros, Ávila province, Spain. Photograph: Antoine/Guardian CommunityView image in fullscreen Sheep search for food on a scorched pasture near Piedralaves, 60 miles west of Madrid.