Athens Forest Fire: Firefighters Deployed near Porto Germeno

The Greek capital Athens lies on the edge of a region that is repeatedly hit by forest fires during the summer months. Long dry spells, high temperatures and strong wind favor the spread of fires, as has been seen repeatedly in recent years.

Background: Repeated Fires in the Region

The current fire broke out just days after a series of other forest fires in Greece. Over the weekend, crews had been battling blazes in other parts of the country, fueled by similar weather conditions.

Authorities urged residents in affected villages to keep windows and doors closed and to stay away from the fire areas. According to the information available, no evacuations had been ordered at that point.

No Evacuations Ordered So Far

No confirmed information on possible injuries or damage to buildings was available on Monday. The fire service announced that it would continue to monitor the fire and continue firefighting operations overnight.

In other parts of southern Europe as well, crews have recently been battling forest fires. In recent days in southern France, firefighters and emergency personnel in one département were deployed to bring flames under control in difficult-to-access terrain.

Southern France Also Affected

The weather forecast predicted continuing high temperatures and strong wind for the coming days, preparing crews for a persistently difficult situation. Authorities said they intended to update warnings to the population as needed.

The report was picked up, among others, by the Austrian news agency APA, which classified the fire as a new focus of operations for the Greek fire service.