Firefighters, volunteers, and residents in Alexandroupolis, Rodopi, Kavala, Boeotia, Evia, and Kythnos continued their efforts to bring the fires under control.

In the last 24 hours, 63 forest fires were reported. The weather conditions are extremely intense, mainly due to gale-force winds, and a huge effort has been made to manage the fire fronts that broke out simultaneously in many areas of the country.

Large front in Nea Artaki and Psachna Evia

The strong winds still blowing did not allow any effective interventions by the fire brigade’s ground forces to contain the fire burning in the area, resulting in the entire mountain above Nea Artaki surrendering to the flames.

Firefighting forces, volunteers, and municipal and regional water engines have tried to contain some fire fronts regionally to protect residential areas. Earlier, the evacuation of the industrial area in Nea Artaki was also ordered.

So far, the fire has burned pine forests and has spread to olive groves, as well as poultry and pig farms, but so far no damage assessment has been done.

Many areas, which were surrounded by the fire fronts, were without electricity and water, as a large part of the electricity network has been damaged. In several cases, damage was repaired by the PPC crews, while generators were also installed to serve the needs of residents.

The winds at this time are particularly strong and in some cases exceed 7 or 8 Beaufort, while according to the Civil Protection data today, the region is on red alert along with Boeotia and part of Fthiotida.

How many fire brigade forces are operating

In the forest fire that broke out in the early morning hours of August 19 in the area of Melia Alexandroupolis, 214 firefighters with 11 teams of hiking sections and 59 vehicles are operating, while 4 aircraft and 3 helicopters operate periodically. Assistance is also provided by forces of the Hellenic Police, volunteer firefighters, as well as water trucks and project machinery of the H.S. and the O.T.A.

Due to the progression of the fire and in order to protect the health of the patients of the General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, although no such need had arisen, the General Hospital was evacuated.

In the fire that broke out in an agroforestry area in the area of Prodromos Boeotia, which broke out in the early morning hours, 74 firefighters with 6 groups of hiking teams are operating, while 2 aircraft and 1 helicopter are periodically operating.

92 firefighters with 3 teams of firefighters, including 19 French firefighters and 30 vehicles, are operating on the fire in the grassland area in the area of Profitis Ilias in Pshna Evia, while 4 aircraft and 2 helicopters are operating periodically.

In Kavala, in the fire that broke out in a forest area of the Dialecto region, 85 firefighters with 2 teams of hiking teams and 12 vehicles are operating, while 2 aircraft and 1 helicopter are operating. During the firefighting, 2 firefighters were injured and taken to hospital, while a fire truck suffered severe damage.

37 firefighters with 18 vehicles are operating in the fires that have broken out in Rhodope, while 1 plane and 2 helicopters are operating.

In the fire in Kythnos, 4 firefighters are operating and 4 others are travelling from Attica.

The local investigative offices, as well as teams of the Directorate of Arson Crimes (D.A.E.E.), are investigating the causes of the fires.

Which areas are at extreme risk of fire today

As a reminder, according to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Change & Civil Protection, for today, Tuesday (22/8), an extreme fire risk – Fire Alert Status (risk category 5) is predicted for the following areas:

– Region of Attica

– Region of Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia, PE Fthiotida)

– Region of Peloponnese (PE Argolida, PE Corinthia).