The European Union has sent two planes to assist Spain in taking care of wildfires, after Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time ever for forest fires.

A volunteer firefighter died from severe burns and several people were hospitalised as the state weather agency warned that almost all of the country was at extreme or very high risk of fire.

Firefighters in Spain have been battling wildfires in the north-western province of Leon. Three people have died in Spain due to the blazes this summer. The country is among several European countries experiencing scorching temperatures this week that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying.