In 2022, wildfires have scorched more than 600,000 hectares of Europe.

This ranks as the second-highest total for any year, and comes amid a heatwave that has killed more than 2000 people in Spain and Portugal alone.

Climate scientists have warned that these wild weather events are only going to become more regular, and Aotearoa will not be spared.

So are we ready for the impact of long, dry summers? And is our fire service well enough equipped to battle raging wildfires?  

Today, Damien speaks to NZ Herald planning director Vera Alves about what it's like on the ground in Portugal, and Joe Stanley, the vice president of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, joins later to discuss New Zealand's preparedness. 

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Damien Venuto
Editor/Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

In 2022, wildfires have scorched more than 600,000 hectares of Europe.
This ranks as the second-highest total for any year, and comes amid a heatwave that has killed more than 2000 people in Spain and Portugal alone.
Climate scientists have warned that these wild weather events are only going to become more regular, and Aotearoa will not be spared.
<a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-its-hard-to-breathe-as-europe-burns-is-nz-ready-for-wildfire-season/UEOI6HIK4TOTRDTIEQODPBFTSU/">So are we ready for the impact of long, dry summers?</a> And is our fire service well enough equipped to battle raging wildfires?     Today, Damien speaks to NZ Herald planning director Vera Alves about what it's like on the ground in Portugal, and Joe Stanley, the vice president of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, joins later to discuss New Zealand's preparedness. 
Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts.
You can read more about <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-its-hard-to-breathe-as-europe-burns-is-nz-ready-for-wildfire-season/UEOI6HIK4TOTRDTIEQODPBFTSU/">this</a> and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.
Host: Damien Venuto Editor/Producer: Shaun D Wilson Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day. 

Keeping up to date with the news just became a little easier. Available every weekday at 5am, tune in as Chelsea Daniels chats with the journalists and newsmakers, going behind the headlines to break down what you need to know on the biggest stories of the day.

Every day, The Front Page takes you behind the scenes of the biggest story from the New Zealand Herald. Hosted by Damien Venuto

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