NewsWorld newsEuropean UnionA British woman who moved from London to Spain has explained why she won't come back and why she's going to move ot another European country instead12:58, 05 Aug 2026A British woman who left the UK to live in Spain has explained the tragic reason why she won't return to the UK, despite the danger from the wildfires and extreme heat rapidly sweeping a nation she has called home for the past three years.‌Former accountant Barbara, 72, has lived in the Spanish city of Granada since she left London for warmer weather and increased levels of sunshine.‌However, she has since expressed her regret about the move due to the extreme temperatures that have left her stuck inside her rented property.‌In fact, the heat has become so acute that she has considered moving to Portugal instead to try and escape the blazing temperatures and risk of wildfires.This is instead of returning to the UK, which, while facing its own wildfire risk, is not subject to the same harsh conditions as Spain and France are currently facing.‌Explaining why she won't return to the UK, Barbara told the i newspaper: "Going back to the UK is not an option. I have no family. My husband died six years ago, as have most of my closest friends."I have friends in Portugal, they say summers there are very pleasant and bearably hot, with a constant fresh sea breeze along the Atlantic coast. I am planning a trip to Lisbon in November to start looking for houses to rent."Barbara went into greater detail about how she feels about her move to Granada, describing it as the "biggest regret" of her life as she also described the fear she felt that her region would also be hit by the devastating fires that have cost the European continent millions.‌It is the ferocity of these wildfires that has caused such consternation as they have ripped through parts of Spain, France, and other European countries.It has been suggested that these wildfires have in part been driven by climate change which has seen temperatures regularly soar into the high thirties and early forties, putting massive pressure on ecosystems and the people within them.Article continues belowSpeaking to the Guardian about the matter, research associate at Imperial College London Dr Clair Barnes said that climate change was driving the dangerous phenomenon, a trend that was now playing out in real time.She told the publication: "We’ve seen repeatedly how climate change increases hot, dry, flammable conditions that are extremely conducive to wildfires."It’s still early in the season – and with another heatwave looming, these findings are extremely scary. What we’re seeing is a clear sign of the escalating impacts of warming."Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌HeatwaveEuropean Union