Some Success In Athens Fires
The BBC reports that calmer winds and the assistance of other countries has slowed the spread of fires in Greece.
From the main points below the map at the bottom of the article:
- The fires began late on Friday, 21 August in the rural area of Grammatiko to the north-east of the capital, Athens.
- Driven by high winds, flames reached the villages of Varnavas, Marathon and Agios Stefanos on Saturday, cutting them off from the road.
- Later that day, residents in wooded Athens suburbs such as Pendeli, Pikermion and Pallini were told to leave as fire threatened the capital.
- Overnight between Saturday and Sunday, BBC correspondent Malcolm Brabant evacuated his home in Drafi “with maybe five minutes to spare”.
- Fires are also burning on the islands of Evia and Skyros in the Aegean Sea, in Zakynthos in the west, and near the Porto Germeno coastal resort.
France and Italy have sent water tanker aircraft to help in the battle which involves towns and forests. Many structures have already burned because of the high, changeable winds which have frustrated attempts at establishing fire lines and spread spot fires with flying embers.
The terrain is wooded hills and groves with narrow, winding roads to ancient villages and towns, and well as newer suburbs of Athens. I spent a lot of time in Glyfada, southwest of Athens proper, and have made trips into the affected region. Souvlaki, feta, olives, and retsina under the groves was a good way to cool off during the summer. Fires have pretty much deforested the hills around Athens.
