This wildfire season has been especially severe in North America. Following the devastating Waldo Canyon Fire suffered by Colorado in June, a frightening series of blazes scorched through the American West. Meanwhile, Europe simultaneously struggled with destructive flames, including deadly fires that killed and displaced people in Spain’s mainland and Canary Islands. The photos featured here capture the massive scale of what thousands of firefighters and military forces face when battling recent wildfires fueled by lightning, record-breaking heat, and strong winds.

Photos from Jeremy Charles Photography, NicLeister, Mr Purdy, The California National Guard, Neoconec_7d, tropposnello, and Benet2010.