Small outbreaks of fire were recorded on Wednesday morning in the Erythros area of ​​Nea Makris, with the fire brigade dealing with them immediately. 2 aircraft and 5 helicopters are also operating in the area.

Speaking about the big fire in SKAI, the president of the Union of Fire Brigade Officers, Kostas Tsigasemphasized that in Attica “the city has entered the forest”whereas “in the countryside the forest has entered the cities”. It was a very difficult fire, perhaps the most difficult in recent years which we have faced due to the prevailing conditions he stressed.

As Mr. Tsigas explained, both the strong winds and the continued rain with high temperatures caused loss of life and destruction. There were many difficulties, intense smoke, every moment we were trapped in the fire, there was no possibility of throwing due to smoke, the embers and particles that were suspended constantly created new outbreaks, he noted.

Very high fire danger today as well

A very high fire risk (risk category 4) is forecast tomorrow for the following areas:

  • Region of Central Macedonia (PE of Halkidiki, including Mount Athos).
  • Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace (Thasos, Rodopi, Evros, including the island of Samothraki).
  • North Aegean Region (Lemnos Region).

“In less than 20 minutes, the fire passed over Penteli”

The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection mentioned the reasons why the fire escaped in northeastern Attica, while he responded to the words of the president of SYRIZA, Stefanos Kasselakis, about the number of aerial vehicles that were operating.

THE Vassilis Kikiliasspeaking on his main bulletin said that the burned areas are less than the 80,000 hectares estimated by Copernicus and pointed to the special weather conditions that prevailed, which contributed to the front escaping, despite the very quick intervention of the fire brigade.

“The damage is not too great. The first helicopter arrived at five minutes, followed by four more. Due to the weather conditions, it was not possible to control the fire. Then he left. Then zones were made to stop the fire. First priority was to protect the houses. In less than 20 minutes, the fire passed over Penteli”.

Referring to the tragic loss of a woman in Patima Chalandriou, he said: “912 was issued in that area, the woman’s colleagues left, for some reasons she did not leave.”

For the statements of Kasselakis he said: “Crises do not lend themselves to political exploitation. Kind criticism is welcome. Operationally, the fire brigade refuted Mr Kasselakis who said he only saw three flying. The fire chief made the new dogma. He decides when the aerial vehicles fly. If Mr. Kasselakis, or anyone else, wants to continue like this, let him do it himself.”