Firefighters tackle blazes near Athens

Greek firefighters were battling two wildfires near Athens on Sunday amid strong winds, just hours after managing to contain blazes in a mountainous area near the capital and on an island in the Aegean Sea, as reported by Reuters.

Dozens of firefighters in full gear, supported by 23 water-carrying aircraft, fought to control a fire near the town of Keratea, approximately 35 kilometres south of Athens.

Authorities ordered evacuations before flames from burning pine and olive trees reached houses.

Another wildfire erupted in the community of Stamata, north of Athens, burning a pine forest and sending smoke over parts of the city.

So far, this fire has not threatened any homes.

With hot, windy conditions across much of Greece, dozens of wildfires broke out over the weekend, and people were advised to avoid forested areas.

Wildfires on the island of Serifos

Firefighters were still engaged on the island of Serifos where a fire had started amid low vegetation on Saturday and spread rapidly due to strong winds.

This fire damaged houses and led to the evacuation of several hamlets.

The wildfire, which at one point spanned 15 kilometres, caused damage to holiday homes and storehouses, according to the island’s mayor, Kostas Revinthis.

Efforts to control the fire continued, with firefighters working to prevent further spread.

Mayor Revinthis described the situation: “The wildfire damaged holiday homes and storehouses.”

Measures to combat fires in Greece

Following last summer’s deadly forest fires and its warmest winter on record, Greece developed a new approach to firefighting.

This includes deploying extra fire engines to each new blaze, accelerating air support, and clearing forests.

The mountainous forest of Parnitha, near a nature reserve just outside Athens, saw a fire that had eased by Sunday morning, according to officials.

Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean country but have become more destructive in recent years due to hotter, drier, and windier summers, which scientists attribute to the effects of climate change.

Challenges faced by Greek firefighters

Greek firefighters continue to face significant challenges due to the ongoing hot and windy conditions.

The recent spate of wildfires highlights the importance of the new firefighting doctrine implemented by Greece.

This includes faster response times and better-preparedness strategies to address the growing threat of wildfires.