Firefighters are making progress in containing the spread of wildfires in France and Spain, with cooler weather toward the weekend offering the prospect of relief, but two died tackling a blaze in Greece.

The fire to the west of Bordeaux has burned about 420 square kilometers of France’s Gironde region, an area roughly four times the size of Paris, but the situation stabilized over the past few days. The spread of fires outside Madrid has also slowed, with more evacuees returning to their homes.

The situation remains challenging as Western Europe’s fourth heat wave since the end of May sears southwest France with temperatures as high as 42C (108F). Strengthening winds also threaten to fan new outbreaks this evening, but Thursday will bring thunderstorms and highs of just 30C to the region.