Forest fires near Athens are under control
The Greek fire department has brought two forest fires near the outskirts of Athens under control. There is no longer an active fire front, fire department spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said. On Sunday, in the coastal town of Keratea east of the capital and in the suburb of Stamata, fires broke out due to strong winds and drought.
Residents in eight areas near Athens were called upon to leave their houses and apartments. A 45-year-old man from Stamata suffered a fatal heart attack. Several houses and cars were destroyed by the flames.
The fires were contained by firefighters with the support of water-dropping aircraft and helicopters "under very dangerous conditions," the spokesperson said. The fact that the wind had subsided also facilitated firefighting efforts in other parts of the country, he added.
A forest fire that broke out in the Parnitha Mountains region, also known as "the lung of Athens," on Saturday afternoon, was already back under control by Saturday evening, after reinforcements arrived from other regions and the volunteer fire department joined the effort.
The fire department registered 52 new forest fires on Monday. Firefighting efforts on the island of Chios in the north-eastern Aegean Sea were particularly challenging, spokesperson Vathrakogiannis said on Monday evening. The fire department is fighting the flames there with 142 firefighters, seven aircraft, and three helicopters. Two firefighters were lightly injured during the operation.
Popular vacation destination Greece has had to fight this year with the warmest winter and an unusually early heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 44 degrees Celsius. The country is preparing for a harsh forest fire season.
The Greek fire department's successful control of the forest fires in Athens demonstrates their capabilities in managing such crises. However, a new fire challenge emerged in the Parnitha Mountains region earlier, which was also swiftly brought under control with the assistance of reinforcements and the volunteer force.
