Athens on High Alert as Forest Fire Flames Reach 80 Feet Nearby

On August 12, Greek authorities issued evacuation orders in response to wildfires that are threatening the capital city, Athens. The fire service announced that residents from seven northern suburbs, as well as staff and patients at a children’s hospital, needed to evacuate immediately.

The affected suburbs include Nea Penteli, Palia Penteli, Drafi, Dioni, Damarasi, Daou Pentelis, and Agios Spyridonas. Residents of these areas received alerts via phone and text with instructions to seek safety. In addition, people in Anthousa, located approximately nine miles northeast of downtown Athens, were advised to prepare for a possible evacuation as the fire posed a threat to their community.

The blaze is rapidly advancing and poses a significant risk to New Makri, a town with roughly 17,000 residents, and Grammatiko, situated south of where the wildfire started. Furthermore, a third fire front has emerged in Kallitechnoupoli, located about 14 miles east of downtown Athens.

In the midst of the emergency, two monasteries were evacuated as hundreds of firefighters, supported by over 180 vehicles and 32 aircraft, fought the flames. Television crews captured footage of the fire perilously close to homes, as helicopters worked to drop fire retardants in an attempt to halt its advance.

The wildfire erupted at Varnavas, about 22 miles northeast of Athens, and has been spreading rapidly southward. The flames have been fueled by strong winds and high temperatures, which have been hovering in the mid-30s Celsius, with forecasts warning that they might approach 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days.

Reports indicate that homes in Varnavas have already been set ablaze, and residents of Athens are grappling with an oppressive heat and a smoky atmosphere. As strong winds persisted throughout Sunday night, creating dangerous conditions, Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the fire services, urged residents in affected areas to follow official directives to ensure their safety.

Despite these warnings, some local residents are declining to evacuate, opting instead to remain behind in a bid to protect their properties from the encroaching flames.

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias outlined the large-scale response to the fires, revealing that 670 firefighters, 27 forest commando units, 183 vehicles, 17 planes, and 15 helicopters have been mobilized for the battle against the raging blazes. Wind speeds in the area have been recorded at 7 on the Beaufort Scale, equivalent to 32-38 mph, and are expected to remain at these elevated levels in the immediate future.

Reports indicate that flames have reached heights of up to 80 feet as the situation unfolds. Kikilias emphasized that the residents of northeastern Attica have been enduring an “extremely dangerous” fire that has been under control efforts for more than 20 hours. The firefighters are facing exceptionally challenging conditions due to the strong winds, prolonged drought, and the rugged terrain of dense forests in the area.

The wildfires surrounding Athens are part of a larger crisis in Greece, with approximately 40 wildfires igniting across the country within a 24-hour period. These events are occurring during a summer marked by historical heat, with this June and July recorded as the hottest since modern documentation began in 1960.