A wildfire in a forested mountain region just outside Athens showed signs of easing on Saturday, though roughly 200 firefighters supported by water-dropping aircraft were still engaged in putting out the remaining flames, authorities reported.
Challenges from Gale-Force Winds
Gusts surpassing 100 kph (62 mph) posed significant challenges in efforts to control the fire on Mount Parnitha, located approximately 20 km (12 miles) north of Athens. Earlier, there was concern the fire could spread to a nearby nature reserve.
Fire Extinguished but Caution Remains
Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias stated in a televised address, “The fire no longer has an active front, but we still have a considerable amount of work ahead and will continue throughout the night.” Importantly, no homes were reported to be at risk from the fire.
Additional Wildfires Across Greece
Hot, windy conditions across much of Greece led to the ignition of around 50 wildfires on Saturday. Authorities advised the public to avoid forest areas. Meteorologists predicted that the strong winds would not subside until Sunday.
Increasing Wildfire Severity
While wildfires are a common occurrence in the Mediterranean region, their severity has increased in recent years. Summers have become hotter, drier, and windier, a trend scientists attribute to climate change.
Greece’s New Firefighting Strategy
In response to the deadly forest fires last summer and the warmest winter on record, Greece has developed a new firefighting strategy. This includes deploying an additional fire truck to each new incident, speeding up air support, and clearing forested areas to reduce fire risk.
Historical Impact on Mount Parnitha
A significant portion of Mount Parnitha’s nature reserve, which is rich in pines and fir trees, was devastated by a major fire in 2007.