15 km fire front in Dervenochori moves towards Mandra

The fire brigade continues to fight the fire in East Attica, Loutraki and Dervenochoria. With the first rays of the sun, fire aviation entered the battle with fire, and fire fighting forces were strengthened in all directions.

The most difficult place where firefighters work is Dervenochoria.

🕑 Ώρα 01:50

🔴 ΒΙΝΤΕΟ: Η εικόνα του ανεξέλεγκτου πύρινου μετώπου στα #Δερβενοχώρια

⬅️ Αριστερά (βίντεο), το ένα μέτωπο της φωτιάς κατευθύνεται προς #Πάρνηθα.

➡️ Δεξιά (βίντεο), το άλλο τμήμα της φωτιάς έχει κατεύθυνση προς #Μάνδρα.#φωτια #πυρκαγια #πυροσβεστικη pic.twitter.com/HkKUwuqe9l

— attica24.gr (@attica24gr) July 17, 2023

The armed forces of Greece, mobilized according to the plan “ΔΕΥΚΑΛΙΩΝ”, take an active part in extinguishing fires.

A Greek Air Force Chinook helicopter takes on water to put out a fire

In the morning, residents of northern Attica received a message from the 112 service in connection with the forest fire in Dervenochoria: “A forest fire is developing in the Dervenochoria area. Smoke is moving towards your area. Stay indoors, close doors and windows.” Self-defense instruction: https://www.civilprotection.gr/el/dasikes-pyrkagies“.

Suffocating atmosphere in Dervenochoria

According to the mayor of Tanagra, Vasilis Pergalia, there are currently no settlements in Dervenochoria that are in danger, but the atmosphere in the city is suffocating due to a cloud of smoke that has enveloped the area. “The situation is difficult, but there are no problems with settlements,” Pergalias said in an interview with ILA, noting that light winds are currently blowing, and both air and powerful ground forces are working in the area. The situation has improved since last night, but there is still a lot of work to be done before the fire is put out.”

A snapshot of the Dervenochori area on Tuesday morning – Photo: AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris

According to the mayor of Tanagra, the fire developed slowly at night, as there was no strong wind, and the fire brigade acted effectively and did not let the fire “go away.” Nevertheless, the fire set fire to forest and shrub areas. No other damage has yet been recorded. A fire front with a radius of 15 km does not stop burning in a very difficult place – a continuous virgin forest, and firefighters are fighting to ensure that it does not spread to Mandru.

In Loutraki, despite the fact that the situation is assessed as more favorable, a new fire broke out earlier in the pine forest (by itself?). Firefighters are fighting to prevent the threat to the village of “Agios Charalambos”.

According to ERT, about thirty houses were damaged, and a policeman who tried to save the family and their dog was injured, but nothing threatens his life.

Affected Volunteers

According to ERT, three volunteers from the civil protection of the municipality of Saronicos have experienced vision problems and need to be hospitalized. These people participated in the firefighting and got into trouble because of the sparks from the fire.

Two arrests

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said yesterday that “everything possible” had been done regarding the ongoing fires. He also said that fire investigators had arrested two men working on fire in Caparelli, Boeotia. “The climate crisis has come. And we have had fires, we have and, unfortunately, we will have,” he said (Convenient excuse. Editor’s note).

#Wildfires burn in southeastern Attica tonight, near Athens. #Greece #φωτιά

pic.twitter.com/rGb8b0GvSd

— Savvas Karmaniolas (@savvaskarma) July 17, 2023

Very high risk of fires on July 18

According to the fire danger forecast map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Defense of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Defense, as of Tuesday, July 18, 2023, a very high fire risk (risk category 4) is forecast for the following areas:

• Attica region (including the island of Kythera)
• Region of Central Greece (Boeotia, Evia)
• Peloponnese region (PE Corinthia, PE Argolis, PE Laconia)
• South Aegean Region (Cyclades)
• North Aegean Region (P.E. Mytilene, P.E. Chios, P.E. Samos, P.E. Ikaria)
• Region of Crete.

Critics of the authorities reminded the Mitsotakis government how last year they dispersed a peaceful rally of firefighters with water cannons who demanded a solution to the issue of their payment.

Θυμίζω με τι αγάπη αγκαλιάζει αυτή η κυβέρνηση τους πυροσβέστες της σε off fire season που σήμερα τους εκθειάζει για τον ηρωισμό κ τις υπεράνθρωπες προσπάθειές τους pic.twitter.com/8h68zScXES

— Hero Grigoraki (@herogrig) July 17, 2023

“I remember with what love the government hugs its firefighters during the fire season, and today praises them for their heroism and superhuman efforts,” writes user “herogrig”.

Source link