"We're working together with French firefighters on a fire at la Jonquera," they said on Twitter.

The firefighters in Catalonia said they were aided by six water-dropping planes and helicopters.

They added the blaze, which began around 5:30 pm (1530 GMT) according to French authorities, was quickly brought under control and by the evening, the highway was open again.

The fire comes as France experiences the summer's busiest day on the roads, as July holiday-makers return home and those who vacation in August depart.

Europe's record-high temperatures
Paris (AFP) Aug 3, 2018 - The temperatures peaking in Europe are close to the highest ever on the continent, where 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 Fahrenheit) is the record.

Here are three examples of extreme highs in Europe:

- 1977: Europe record in Greece -

The thermometer hits 48 degrees Celsius on July 10, 1977 at Greece's Eleusis, several kilometres (miles) west of central Athens.

Trapped in a serious drought, the country experiences several wildfires, including in the Tatoi pine forest, the former estate of the royal family 15 kilometres (nine miles) north of the capital.

It is the record high in Europe, according to the World Meteorological Organization.

The agency lists the world record as 56.7 degrees Celsius in Death Valley in California on July 10, 1913, although this is disputed by some experts.

- 2003: 47.3 degrees Celsius in Portugal -

On August 1, 2003 the village of Amareleja, in southern Portugal, the temperature reaches 47.3 degrees Celsius, a record for the country.

Europe is sweltering through a major heatwave which causes an estimated 70,000 deaths from June to September, of which 2,700 in Portugal.

Amareleja is known as the hottest village in Portugal but had by 2005 not recorded a single heat-related death, its mayor tells AFP that year.

"It has always been very hot here," a 72-year old inhabitant says AFP. "It takes no-one by surprise. We are used to it."

- 2017: 47.3 degrees Celsius in Spain -

On July 13, 2017 the mercury rises to 47.3 degrees Celsius in the small town of Montoro near Cordoba in southern Spain. It is the highest temperature ever recorded in Spain.

For a week, daytime temperatures remain above 40 degrees Celsius, according to the El Pais daily.

The town's houses are covered with red sandstone to keep them cool, the paper reports at the time.

It also copes by programming summer events such as the theatre and the circus late in the evening, with the town swimming pool staying open until two in the morning, it says.