- The fire began on Friday afternoon on the slopes of Mount Poikilo in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens; the fire service put the outbreak at 15:29 and said it was moving south.
- A wildfire in the forested area prompted evacuation alerts and a major firefighting response.
- More than 100 firefighters are on scene: 108 firefighters with six ground teams from the 1st EMODE special wildfire unit and 27 vehicles.
- Aerial firefighting includes five aircraft and six helicopters, one of them for coordination.
- Two 112 emergency alert messages were issued after an initial standby alert, including one telling people in Afaia Haidariou and Ano Dasos Haidariou to move towards Peristeri via Athinon Avenue.
- The area is classified as Category 4, indicating a very high risk of wildfires, and the Western Attica Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been activated to investigate the cause.
- Municipal water tankers from Aspropyrgos, Fyli, Petroupoli and Peristeri are assisting.
- The Fire Service's Operations Coordination Centre (ESKEDIK) has been receiving continuous imagery from a drone equipped with thermal and optical cameras.
More than 100 firefighters are currently battling a wildfire that broke out around 3:30 p.m. on Friday on the slopes of Mount Poikilo, in the Aspropyrgos area, west of Athens. The fire service reported that the blaze is moving south and has prompted evacuation alerts for nearby residents.123
A total of 108 firefighters are on the scene, supported by six ground teams from the 1st EMODE special wildfire unit and 27 vehicles. Aerial support includes five aircraft and six helicopters, although strong winds have grounded some water-dumping aircraft, complicating firefighting efforts.45
The 112 emergency alert system issued two messages, the first at 16:03 to inform residents of the fire, and the second at 16:22 urging those in Afaia Haidariou and Ano Dasos Haidariou to evacuate towards Peristeri. The area is classified as Category 4, indicating a very high risk of wildfires, and the Western Attica Arson Crimes Investigation Unit has been activated to investigate the cause of the blaze.678
As of now, thousands have been evacuated across Greece, where more than 70 wildfires are reported to be active. The fire department confirmed that over 200 firefighters are engaged in combating these blazes, which have already claimed the lives of three firefighters due to the extreme conditions.
The situation is dire, with strong winds and dry, hot conditions exacerbating the wildfires, and temperatures expected to remain above 30°C, posing a prolonged risk of fires across the continent.
“The blaze broke out Friday afternoon on Mount Poikilo in Aspropyrgos, west of Athens, and 112 alerts directed residents of Afaia Haidariou and Ano Dasos Haidariou toward Peristeri via Athinon Avenue. The area is at Category 4 very high fire risk, and the Western Attica Arson Crimes Investigation Unit is probing the cause.”
Euronews
