The bloc’s crisis management chief calls for more investment and plans to be accelerated as an ominous heatwave looms.Deadly wildfires have spread across Turkiye and Greece after weeks of devastation in Spain, France and Portugal.Two firefighters died battling a forest blaze on the Greek island of Crete on Wednesday, the fire department said, as several fires started around the country fanned by gale-force winds.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Photos: France, Spain battle ‘monster’ wildfires as more heat loomslist 2 of 3Wildfires in southwest Europe: What we know so farlist 3 of 3Wildfire leaves Biscarrosse commercial district in ruinsend of listWildfires also broke out across western Turkiye on Wednesday, destroying homes, shutting down roads and forcing people to evacuate their homes, local media reported.The European Union’s crisis management commissioner says the bloc needs to invest more in tackling climate change and accelerate its response, as France and Spain prepare for another crippling heatwave that could ignite new wildfires and intensify existing blazes.Hadja Lahbib said the EU must ensure its climate strategy remains in lockstep with realities on the ground, as global warming advances faster than scientists previously projected. She has called for increased funding, better education on fire risk and a renewed focus on forest management.“Climate change is accelerating. So our response must evolve just as quickly,” Lahbib told Reuters.“We must prepare for risks before disasters strike and not simply react afterwards.”Lahbib’s comments come as devastating wildfires continue to burn across parts of France and Spain, forcing the evacuation of 330,000 people.French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the country has “very likely” carried out its largest civilian evacuation outside of wartime. Around 220,000 people have so far been evacuated in France, and more than 110,000 in Spain have fled their homes.The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre has warned Italy and parts of central Europe that they could soon face wildfires too.Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent. As temperatures rise, evidence continues to emerge that climate change could have severe economic consequences. The annual Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change found that Europe is woefully unprepared for the health impacts of global warming.‘Extreme’ riskAuthorities in France’s southwestern Gironde region said they were able to keep the wildfires under control overnight from Tuesday into Wednesday. Gironde is the worst-affected area in France. More than 42,000 hectares have burned, an area roughly four times the size of Paris.The fires in Gironde may have slowed, but they have not been contained. Another approaching heatwave is causing anxiety among officials and residents, who fear the situation could soon become far more volatile.Temperatures in the area were expected to reach as high as 42C (108F) on Wednesday, while dry winds are likely to fuel the wildfires, Gironde Prefect Sophie Brocas said.Neighbouring Spain is also grappling with several blazes, but progress has been made, allowing thousands to return to their homes. Spain’s national weather agency has warned that the risk of wildfires will be “very high or extreme in most of the country”.In Pelayos de la Presa, 80km southwest of Madrid, people returned to severely damaged homes that had to be demolished. “It’s a real disaster. Just look at what happened, the state everything’s in. All my memories, I had everything here. My father built it 40 years ago and now everything’s gone,” David Fernandez told the AFP news agency.