Dozens of firefighters in Greece battle to stop wildfire ignited north of Athens

Dozens of firefighters in Greece on Saturday (June 29) were battling to stop a wildfire from spreading to a nature reserve in a mountainous forest area north of Athens. A report by the news agency Reuters said that about 80 firefighters assisted by 12 water-carrying planes were trying to control the fire on Mount Parnitha, some 12 kilometres north of Athens, which was being fuelled by gale-force winds.

Addressing a press conference, fire brigade spokesperson Vasilis Vathrakogiannis said that sizeable forces on the ground were fighting a huge fire. “Gusts of wind exceeding 100 km per hour were hampering their efforts,” Vathrakogiannis said.

He added that another 100 firefighters stationed elsewhere in Greece were expected to join those already working at the scene.

Reuters reported that with hot, windy conditions across much of Greece, some 40 landscape fires broke out since the early morning hours on Saturday and authorities advised people to stay out of forest areas.

A message was sent to people in nearby areas (of Mount Parnitha) via the emergency number 112 to be on standby due to the fire. 

A report by the news agency AFP, meanwhile, said that the Fire Danger Forecast Map issued for Sunday by the Civil Protection Ministry predicted a high risk of fire (category 4) for Attica, the Peloponnese, Crete, the North and South Aegean Regions, and Central Greece.

Wildfires are common in Greece but have become more devastating in recent years as summers have become hotter, drier, and windier. In 2023, a fierce two-week heatwave was followed by devastating wildfires in which 20 people died.

The fire consumed nearly 432,000 acres of forest and farmland, according to the government. 

(With inputs from agencies)