New fire in Crete: in the Gazi area the fire is being extinguished in a difficult-to-reach area

A new fire broke out in an agro-forest area in the Gazi area, in the municipality of Malevizi near Heraklion. The fire is spreading through inaccessible terrain with low vegetation and difficult terrain, and the work of firefighters is seriously complicated by strong winds, which in some places reach 7 points on the Beaufort scale.

To extinguish the fire, 30 firefighters, one foot group of the 3rd ΕΜΟΔΕ, nine fire engines and a helicopter were mobilized. Additional assistance is provided by water carriers from the Crete region. A helicopter is carrying out water drops from the air, since access to certain areas of the outbreak is difficult.

Fire in difficult to reach areas

The fire started in an area with low vegetation, but the combination of dry terrain, rugged terrain and strong winds created conditions for the fire to spread quickly. In such cases, even a relatively small outbreak can turn into a dangerous front in a short time, especially if the flames reach slopes and ravines where it is difficult for ground equipment to work.

So far there has been no information about a threat to residential areas. The main task of firefighters, judging by the composition of the forces involved, is to prevent the front from expanding and stop the fire before it approaches roads, economic facilities or populated areas.

Crete in the “very high risk” category

The fire occurred on the day when the fourth was declared for the regions of Heraklion, Lasithi and Rethymno, that is very high level of fire danger. The region of Crete announced in advance the increased readiness of civil protection services and recalled the prohibitions that apply in such conditions: you cannot burn plant residues, carry out work with open fire and sparks, use outdoor barbecues, launch pyrotechnics or sky lanterns.

In practice, this means a simple thing, but for some reason requires repetition every year: in the heat, wind and dry vegetation, any spark, cigarette butt, welding, faulty tool or carelessly left fire can start a chain, which then has to be stopped by helicopters, dozens of firefighters and road closures.

The reasons will be determined by the investigation.

An arson investigation team is being dispatched to the Gazi area. Its task is to establish the exact circumstances under which the fire started. At the moment, there is no official version of the cause of the fire, so any claims of arson, electrical failure or human negligence would be premature.

At the same time, other fire risks remain in Crete. Firefighters are reported to be continuing to work on a fire near Ierapetra, while an earlier fire in Viannos has been contained. The island again finds itself in a situation where several fires occur almost simultaneously, and forces have to be distributed among different areas.

A summer that the authorities are once again greeting as a surprise

This is not the first time Crete has faced dangerous fires, strong winds and a shortage of accessible routes for equipment. This is not a sudden natural anomaly, but a common summer reality of the island. That is why issues of prevention, site clearance, the condition of country roads, water supply and the readiness of local services must be resolved before the first column of smoke appears, and not after the word “mobilization” appears in the news.

Firefighters continue to work. Information about the development of the situation, possible traffic restrictions and the threat to populated areas should be clarified according to official reports from the Fire Service and the authorities of Crete.

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