As Europe scorches, what to do if you’re caught in a wildfire on YOUR summer hols – and why to pack a warm WOOLY BLANKET

DEADLY wildfires have ripped through Brit holiday hotspots, with a relentless wave of blazes claiming 13 lives in just a matter of weeks. Now, as millions of families prepare to jet off, experts and survivors have revealed the crucial – and sometimes surprising – steps that could mean the difference between life and death. Wildfires are tearing through Europe as temperatures reach over 45 degrees Credit: EPA Brits have been given a stark warning by experts to pack a wooly blanket ahead of their trip Credit: EPA Last week, seven Brits – including a 97-year-old woman – died after a ferocious wildfire tore through 7,000 hectares in Spain’s southern province of Almeria. Now firefighters are battling to contain Spain’s biggest blaze of the year near the village of La Mierla, around 60 miles from Madrid. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! More than 1,200 residents have been forced to flee across 28 municipalities as emergency alerts blare across mobile phones. Speaking to The Sun, Dr Thomas Smith, from the London School of Economics, urged holidaymakers to prepare before disaster strikes. The fire expert urged holidaymakers to familiarise themselves with evacuation routes before checking into accommodation. He warned wildfires are far more treacherous than house fires because escape routes can vanish within minutes. Dr Smith added: “Do not delay the evacuation because it could be the difference between life and death. “It might not feel urgent at the time because the smoke can be hidden behind a valley. Most read in The Sun Footage provided by a Brit expat who fled from the wildfires in Almeria shows thick black plumes of smoke Credit: Supplied “Wildfires specifically can often trap people if the evacuation route has been compromised.” Brit expat Andrew Devey, who lives in El Pinar near Almeria, said quick thinking may have saved his and his wife’s lives after the deadly blaze erupted just kilometres away. The grandfather-of-four joined community WhatsApp groups so neighbours could instantly share warnings as the fast-moving inferno unfolded. He told The Sun: “One of the most important things to know is the direction the wind is blowing in.” Andrew urged Brits travelling abroad to download the Wildfire Watch app, which sends an alert if a blaze is detected nearby. He said: “When fires are reported locally, you can see through geolocator and which direction the wind is.” Their first warning did not come from officials – but from a frantic WhatsApp message reporting smoke nearby. Moments later, eerie police sirens echoed through the streets ordering residents to evacuate immediately. The couple fled the home they had already prepared by clearing shrubs and other fire risks before racing away from flames spreading at a staggering 1km every 10 minutes. Dr Smith said: “It is crucial to have a look at the weather alerts and sign up for notifications. “Countries like Spain and Greece will have specific fire apps so make sure they’re downloaded.” Andrew believes acting without hesitation was what saved them. Andrew Devey, 69, believes acting without hesitation was what saved him and his wife Credit: Supplied The smoke swallowed the air in Andrew’s dream retirement town Credit: Supplied The first sirens sounded at 7pm and the couple were out of the door by 7.45pm – driving away as they watched the smoke swallow the air of their dream retirement village. He said: “The more time you’ve got the better. “If you’re in doubt, get out.” Dr Smith also issued one of his most bizarre pieces of advice – to bring a woollen blanket to your sweltering summer holiday. He insists travellers should also avoid wearing synthetic clothing near wildfires. He said polyester and other synthetic fibres can melt into skin and cause excruciating burns if exposed to flames. Dr Smith added: “It can be an absolute horror to be close to a fire wearing synthetic fibre.” Instead, he urged holidaymakers to pack a wooly blanket because it can “provide much more protection”. The blanket can be used to chuck around your shoulders in the event of a fire. Wool is naturally flame-resistant and insulates against radiant heat far better than synthetic clothes, the expert added. Dr Smith also advised dampening the blanket as it creates a temporary barrier against the scorching gas. He also advised wearing wool clothing during an evacuation. Andrew and his wife spent almost two weeks away from their home Credit: AFP A sea plane was spraying the ferocious fire near Almeria the next day Credit: Supplied Andrew, 69, and his wife spent almost two weeks away from their home before returning last Friday to find it miraculously still standing. He revealed many of the homes belonging to those who died while evacuating were left standing – with some virtually untouched. The inferno that raged through the town of Los Gallardos claimed the life of seven Brits – four were confirmed to have died in the car after the group drove into the flames while trying to escape. The death toll has now reached seven Britons as the wildfires in southern Spain continue to rage on. One British man, Malcolm Timbrell, 70, watched his wife, Annette Kilgore, 69, die as she walked out in front of a firewall. Their home in Bedar was consumed by flames as fires swept through the expat hotspot. Andrew believes the blaze tore through the area at terrifying speed because emergency water bombers were grounded overnight, only taking to the skies the following morning. The blaze was caused by a downed power cable which broke and ignited in a ditch, according to the regional president Juanma Moreno. Local firefighters tried to tackle the flames but they were whipped up by winds of 30mph and spread fast. Dry vegetation was the “perfect fuel that, combined with the wind, becomes a ticking time bomb”, according to Moreno. Although their retirement home of 15 years survived, the couple remain without internet after wooden utility poles were destroyed by the flames. Andrew said: “My heart goes out to all those people who suffered. “It’s all very traumatising. “There was always the what if’s and a thousand things that went through my mid when we first heard those sirens. “You have this heart-wrenching feeling that you just don’t know what you’re going back to.” He said the once-thriving landscape has been transformed into a haunting wasteland stripped of wildlife. One British man, Malcolm Timbrell, 70, watched his wife, Annette Kilgore, 69 die in the flames Credit: BBC News Smoke billows from a wildfire that started in La Mierla, Guadalajara, Spain Credit: EPA Andrew said: “All the wildlife has gone, reptiles, the birds. “Usually you can hear the birds chirping. It’;s a subdued feeling.” Dr Smith also shattered the common belief that jumping into water is always the safest option. He warned thick, toxic smoke can still prove deadly even beside pools, lakes or the sea. He said: “Being near a body of water does not mean it’s safer. “If you’re evacuating into the pool or sea, the air might not be safe. If the body of water is near trees or bushes, there would likely be a lot of deadly carbon monoxide in the air.” He also warned people can lose consciousness in dense smoke before drowning. He said: “The thickness of the smoke can be enough to make you unconscious and stop you from keeping afloat.” The stark warning comes as southern Europe braces for another punishing blast of extreme heat. Temperatures are forecast to rocket to a blistering 47C in Spain’s Murcia region in what local newspapers have branded “the mother of all heatwaves”. An urgent alert has also been issued for Brits heading to Greece, where temperatures are forecast to climb to 43C. Larissa reached a sweltering 43C, while Thessaly, Aitoloakarnania, Phthiotis, Boeotia and the Peloponnese could all hit 42C. Holiday favourites Crete and Rhodes are forecast to bake in 41C. Athens could reach 40C, while most surrounding areas will endure highs between 37C and 38C. Thessaloniki, where huge wildfires tore across the region earlier this month, is expected to hit around 37C. Doctors have urged tourists to drink plenty of water, avoid direct sunlight, wear loose clothing and steer clear of alcohol wherever possible. The London Fire Brigade told The Sun: “Always report any signs of fire immediately to the local fire service to minimise the chance of a fire escalating and allow for a swift arrival from firefighters. “It is also not recommended for the public to try and tackle the fire themselves. “Simple tips to prevent accidentally starting a wildfire include not using disposable barbecues and discarding of cigarettes carefully.” Comment now