The heat and the wind are making the work of the Fire Brigade very difficult, while the fires are taking on dangerous proportions.
The efforts of the firemen and volunteers to contain the large fires that broke out today in Lesvos, Evros, Pyrgos and Messinia are titanic.
Temperatures today reach 40 degrees Celsius in areas of Thessaly, Sterea and Peloponnese and 37 in the Dodecanese and southern Crete. At the same time, the winds are strong and sometimes reach 7 Beaufort. The heat and the wind are making the work of the Fire Brigade very difficult, while the fires are taking on dangerous proportions.
Battle in the virgin forest of Dadia Evros
In Evros the fire has been raging for the third day in a row, with efforts focused on virgin forest on the west and south-west sides of the fire’s perimeter. According to the fire department spokesman Giannis Artofioros the fire is confined to the north-eastern part.
They operate in the area 320 firefighters with 68 water carriers, 13 pedestrian sections and volunteers. Six aircraft and nine helicopters operate from the air.
According to the representative of the fire brigade, smoke and moisture from the night make extinguishing efforts difficult, while fire zones are created where possible.
The atmosphere is suffocating in Alexandroupoli from the fire in the forest of Dadia. All the settlements in the municipality of Soufli are naturally in a worse condition. According to KEELPNO, exposure to smoke can cause irritation of the eyes and the respiratory system, as well as worsening of any respiratory and cardiac diseases.
At the same time, firefighters, loggers and people from the forest department have been at work since the morning, cutting trees both to create fire zones and prevent the further spread of the fire, as well as to make access to this virgin area easier and up to previously untouched place. The goal is to have over 200 people working with 120 chainsaws by the evening.
Houses burned on Lesbos – The smoke reached the Cyclades
The picture of the fire fronts on Lesvos is getting worse. As he stated in SKAI The Adreas Axisdeputy mayor of Western Lesbos, the settlement of Stavros from the Vatera side and Vrisa a little further are threatened. “We are making fire zones in Vrisa, there is no immediate danger, but we don’t know what will happen with the shooting of the wind”, emphasized Mr. Axis.
In the meantime, houses burned down in Vatera, while a firefighter was also slightly injured, as the North Aegean regional governor told SKAI Kostas Moutzouris.
Also, at least 8 people, including 4 French tourists, have been collected from the beach of Vateri. A French tourist who fainted in Vatera was taken by the port police to Plomari.
Important contribution of Armed Forces in the fire in Vatera Lesvos. More specifically, four (4) CL-415s, two (2) PZLs, four (4) Fire trucks, two (2) water tankers, three (3) buses, one (1) Land Booster and one (1) are operating in the area Fuel Tanker. K/F KASSOS is going to sail to the area for possible assistance.
The smoke from the fire has reached as far as the Cyclades, due to the strong winds blowing in the area. As the meteorologist and ND MP, Yiannis Kallianos, states in his post, a satellite image shows that the strong north-northeast winds, with gusts reaching 6-7 Beaufort, have carried the smoke as far as Kythnos and Serifos. By the end of the day they may reach even further south.
They operate in the area 81 firefighters with 5 teams of infantry departments, 19 vehicles, 7 aircraft and 1 helicopter, according to the Fire Department. It is noted that earlier an order was given to evacuate Vatera, via a message from 112.
In the wider area of Vatera in Lesvos, on the road network of the Agiasos – Polichnitos – Vatera areas, the necessary Traffic regulations by competent police services of the Lesvos Police Department.
In addition, the supply of the citizens’ gathering point at the Polichnitou Stadium was fully completed, with water, juices and anything else deemed necessary. The Social Protection services of the Municipality are there for the citizens to contribute to whatever they need.
A breath away from the houses, the fire in Spiatza in Pyrgos
Great fire burns early on Saturday afternoon, in a grassy area, with dry grasses and reeds, in Spiatzain Pyrgos.
The fire, due to the strong winds blowing in the area, has reached alarming proportions, while the flames are a breath away from the houses.
Strong forces of the Pyrgos Fire Service are operating at the scene, while aerial vehicles are also assisting.
Big fire in Akritochori, Messinia
A large fire broke out shortly before 2 in the afternoon, in an agroforestry area between Akritohori and Chrysokellaria.
At the point they attempt 60 firefighters with 5 groups of department hikers and 14 vehicles, two aircraft and 1 fire brigade helicopter.
The fire is raging in Grevena
The battle also continues on the fiery front in Grevena, which is raging in a wooded area in the Tsakatura area. It is a creeping fire in a mountainous, inaccessible area.
17 firefighters with three water vehicles, two groups of pedestrian units and a helicopter are operating in the area.
Very high fire risk – Areas in ‘orange’
According to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gr), for today Saturday 23 July 2022, it is very high fire risk (risk category 4) for the following areas:
- Region of Attica
- Region of Central Greece (Evia)
The General Secretariat of Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gr) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection has informed the competent government agencies involved, as well as the Regions and Municipalities of the above areas, so that they are on increased civil protection readiness in order to face any fire incidents immediately.
At the same time, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection recommends that citizens be especially careful and avoid actions in the open air that can cause a fire by negligence, such as burning dry grass and branches or cleaning residues, the use of machines that cause sparks such as circular saws, welding devices , the use of outdoor grills, smoking bees, throwing lit cigarettes, etc. Also, it is recalled that during the fire protection season burning of fields is prohibited.
In the event of a fire, citizens are requested to immediately notify the Fire Service at the number 199.
For more information and self-protection instructions from the dangers of forest fires, citizens can visit the website of the General Secretariat of Civil Protection at www.civilprotection.gr.
View the news feed and get the latest news.
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a vast amount of experience in covering health news. I am also an author at News Bulletin 247. I am highly experienced and knowledgeable in this field. I am a hard worker and always deliver quality work. I am a reliable source of information and always provide accurate information.
