A Pile of Manure and a Heat Wave Combined to Cause Spain’s Worst Wildfire in 20 Years

A pile of manure in Spain ignited on June 27, sparking a wildfire that has torn through more than 10,000 acres of forest and other Catalonian landscapes,

CNN

reports. The manure combusted in part because of a scorching heat wave that has swept across Europe this week; temperatures in the affected region hit 104°F, and Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic all reached record-breaking June temps. Catalan regional interior minister Miquel Buch reported that authorities believe the manure was improperly stored on a chicken farm in the village of La Torre de l’Espanyol, where it was exposed to the worst of the heat, according to

NBC News

. The wildfire—Spain’s most devastating in 20 years—is affecting the region just west of Tarragona, a port city that is best known for its

Roman ruins

, which is situated along the Balearic Sea about 60 miles southwest of Barcelona. [[{"fid":"315211","view_mode":"width-constrained-728","fields":{"format":"width-constrained-728","field_file_image_title_text":false,"field_file_image_alt_text":"Map of Catalonia, Spain","field_image_subhead":"","field_image_subhead":"unfiltered","field_caption":"","field_caption":"unfiltered","field_credits":"PeterHermesFurian%2C%20iStock%2FGetty%20Images%20Plus","field_credits":"unfiltered"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"width-constrained-728","field_file_image_title_text":false,"field_file_image_alt_text":"Map of Catalonia, Spain","field_image_subhead":"","field_image_subhead":"unfiltered","field_caption":"","field_caption":"unfiltered","field_credits":"PeterHermesFurian%2C%20iStock%2FGetty%20Images%20Plus","field_credits":"unfiltered"}},"link_text":false,"attributes":{"alt":"Map of Catalonia, Spain","height":728,"width":728,"class":"media-element file-width-constrained-728","data-delta":"1"}}]] The firefighting force includes about 350 firefighters, 12 fire engines, seven aircraft, two hydroplanes, and additional vehicles equipped with water tanks—all of which are

techniques

regularly used to fight massive blazes. Though high temperatures are expected to continue and the rough terrain itself is also a contributing factor in the rapid spread of the fire, the strong winds should soon abate; authorities have warned people to stay inside. Though more than 50 people have been evacuated from the area, no deaths have been reported thus far. While the spontaneous combustion of flammable materials like manure, hay, or compost is

definitely possible

, as evidenced by this situation, it’s not the most common way for wildfires to start. More common causes

include

lit cigarettes, unattended campfires, burning debris, and engine sparks.