U.K. man describes harrowing escape from Spain wildfire that killed his wife and friends

Key Points:

• Malcolm Timbrell, a British man, survived a deadly wildfire in Bedar, Spain, on July 9, which killed 13 people, including his wife Annette Kilgore and several friends who tried to escape on foot through the flames.
• The wildfire spread rapidly due to extreme heat, high winds, and dry conditions, engulfing an area larger than Manhattan and moving at speeds over 300 feet per minute, making escape extremely difficult.
• Timbrell survived by sheltering in one of the few remaining cars, while his wife and others perished attempting to walk through the advancing fire, highlighting the tragic and chaotic nature of the evacuation.
• The disaster occurred amid a record-breaking heatwave across Europe, contributing to numerous wildfires, including significant blazes near Paris and southern France, where authorities are actively fighting fires and investigating arson.
• Spanish authorities are still confirming the identities of some victims, including Kilgore, as the region copes with the aftermath of one of the deadliest wildfires in the country’s history.