The fire shows an improved image on Mount Falakro of Drama which broke out at noon last Wednesday. The titanic effort of aerial and ground firefighting means to extinguish the large fire, which the fire department characterizes as “creeping” i.e. on the ground, continues while burning so far only grassy areas.

114 firefighters with 10 forestry teams, 3 aircraft and 6 helicopters are working at the scene. Support is provided by 6 project vehicles, which try to make fire zones where they can, as the area is rocky. It is also difficult and inaccessible with steep ravines.

The fire, which spread quickly due to strong winds, was started by two lightning strikes that struck the Snowhole area in two different places, creating two fire fronts which, as the fire spread, merged into one particularly large fire front.

The area where the fire broke out is particularly difficult to access and the approach of the pedestrian fire departments is difficult and only with four-wheel drive trucks or helicopters. The big problem remains the strong wind in the area, because the height in Falakro is high, with the result that the fire does not have a specific direction.

From Wednesday afternoon water is continuously thrown from the air in order to contain the fire front. EMODE (Special Forestry Operations Unit) officials who arrived in Drama from Alexandroupoli and Xanthi are operating in the area, while this morning fifty people also arrived from Athens.

The fear of local agencies and fire authorities is that the fire will spread without control, as a result of which forest lands and residential areas will be at risk.

The announcement of the municipality of Drama

With a post on social media, the municipality of Drama informs the citizens about the fire in Falakro, which has been burning since Wednesday, July 17.

The post states the following: “Because in the last few days we are all worried about the developments with the fire in Falakro, the Municipality of Drama informs you that every possible effort is being made to avert the danger. On Sunday July 21, from 6.30 in the morning, the mayor of Drama Giorgos Papadopoulos together with the deputy mayor of Civil Protection, Christos Mavridis and the deputy mayor of Tourism, Yiannis Georgiadis were at the front of the fire together with all the forces of the Municipality. On the initiative of the mayor, vehicles were ordered for the needs, JCB and Graders. In consultation with the governor of AMTH and the deputy governor of Drama and with the tireless and continuous assistance of the Fire Service of Drama, they operate in the area. The weather conditions and the fire front are developing unfavorably and the danger is high.

We will update you with new announcements during the day. As in all the previous days, the Mayor and the services of the Municipality are on full alert”.