The wildfire at Mt. Parnitha to the north of Athens has subsided without affecting the core of the National Forest, according to Civil Protection on Wednesday night.
The fire first broke out Tuesday morning in Fili, west of Athens, on Parnitha’s foothills.
Seven Air Tractor water-bombers and several helicopters were dealing with the fire until sunset, dropping decelerant liquid.
It was noted that firefighting operations will continue on the ground throughout Wednesday night to prevent the rekindling of fire pockets.
Fire Brigade: 55 fires broke out on Wed. nationwide; a battle to control Mt. Parnitha, Evros fires
Greek firefighting forces were dealing with 99 wildfires nationwide on Wednesday, of which 55 broke out in the last 24 hours, said the Fire Brigade’s spokesperson, Yiannis Artopios, on Wednesday evening.
At the ongoing fire in Attica, which broke out in Fyli on Tuesday and spread to Mt. Parnitha, then into the southern area of the National Forest area north of Athens, some 226 firefighters with 69 fire engines and 11 ground teams are battling the blaze, while 12 water-bombers and 14 helicopters assisted until sunset.
Also helping are the Armed Forces and the Greek police – who also assisted in the fires elsewhere – and local government water trucks and machinery.
Strong firefighting forces are also operating at wildfires in Alexandroupolis, Dadia and Rodopi, all in northeastern Greece, where multiple rekindlings occurred, and several villages have been evacuated. He noted that 17 aeroplanes and eight helicopters operated until sunset.
Concerning the 18 migrants who died in the broader area of Avanta – near the Dadia wildfire – on Tuesday, Artopios said that the Fire Brigade had posted operational guidelines from the Hellenic Disaster Victims Identification Team (DVI) on its website.
The Greek DVI team can also be reached by anyone with information that might help with the identification process at +30-213-1386000. At the same time, documents concerning the victims can be sent via WhatsApp at +30-6944-471742 and dvi@astynomia.gr.
Two fires broke out Wednesday afternoon in Dokos, northeastern of Chalkida, on Evia. Firefighters are working with volunteers on that.
One fire that has subsided is the one in Iliki in Boeotia, and another Moschopodi in Thiva, which has been contained, was added.
Another four notable fires dealt with on Wednesday are those in Distomo, Tarsos and Prodromos in western Boeotia and Skioessa in Achaia prefecture.
Meanwhile, 140 people have been arrested for arson in fields and forests, Artopios noted, of whom 117 were negligent and 23 on suspicions of arson.
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