In heat emergency, southern Europe scrambles for resources

Turkey is seeking international help to fight wildfires, and neighbor Greece is using old power stations to cope with demand for air conditioning as a heat wave intensifies in southeast Europe

ATHENS, Greece -- A heat wave baking southeast Europe has fueled deadly wildfires in Turkey and threatened the national grid in Greece as governments scrambled Monday to secure the resources needed to cope with the emergency. Temperatures reached 45 C (113 F) in inland areas of Greece and nearby countries and are expected to remain high for most of the week. Battling deadly wildfires along its coastline for a sixth day, Turkey broadened an appeal for international assistance and was promised water-dropping planes from the European Union. The fires have been blamed for the deaths of eight people in recent days. In Greece, workers with health conditions were allowed to take time off work, while coal-fired power stations slated for retirement were brought back into service to shore up the national grid, under pressure due to widespread use of air conditioning.