The fire that started in the Varnavas area in Greece on Sunday afternoon is rapidly spreading and has now reached Mount Penteli, according to the Fire Service spokesperson shortly before 6 am today, “despite the superhuman efforts of all Civil Protection forces,” he stated.
The anxiety is heightened by the fact that, as meteorologists and the Fire Service spokesperson said, stronger winds are expected in the coming hours, which have already aided the fire’s rapid spread.
According to Vasilios Vathrakogiannis, on the fire fronts, 510 firefighters are operating with 16 forest fire units and dozens of vehicles, along with a large number of volunteers, with the assistance of all relevant agencies.
The biggest problem is in Dionysos, with flames reaching homes in Palaia and Nea Penteli, Marathonas, and local winds hindering the work of the firefighting forces. In the early hours, an order was given to evacuate both the Penteli Children’s Hospital and the 414 Military Hospital, as the fire began to approach Penteli.
A firefighter was injured
A firefighter operating in Marathonas was taken by ambulance to the Nea Makri Health Centre with burns to his hands and feet, and doctors determined that he should be transferred by EKAB ambulance to the 251 General Air Force Hospital. According to information, the firefighter has second-degree burns that need to be treated by plastic surgeons.
“At least 20 houses have been burnt in Varnavas, one within the settlement. If the aircraft don’t take off, the fire will burn for five days. We can’t approach it from the ground. Only when the flames are low will we be able to. We’ve seen houses, cars, and animals burn. The fire is very strong,” Panagiotis Katsikis, a volunteer firefighter in Varnavas, told MEGA.
The forces had been reinforced. On the fire fronts, shortly after 2 am, 470 firefighters, 16 forest fire units, 132 vehicles, volunteers, municipal water tankers, and construction machinery were operating.
From the air until the last light of day, 16 aircraft and 13 helicopters were mobilised, with two for coordination. In the firefighting effort, they are assisted by construction machinery and water tankers from the Attica Region and the Armed Forces.
See videos and photos from Dionysos:
In a parallel development, a Fire Service vehicle in Varnavas was completely burnt, however, according to information, the firefighters were not in danger.
According to the Fire Service spokesperson, Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, the fire started at 15.02 and quickly spread due to strong winds in the area, with gusts of 8 beaufort.
The flames exceeded 25 metres in height.
In Kalentzi, Marathonas, according to Mega, houses were burnt, but fortunately, the area had been evacuated earlier.
Video from Penteli Children’s Hospital
Οι πυροσβέστες σε ετοιμότητα στο νοσοκομείο Παίδων Πεντέλης #φωτια #φωτιατωρα #Πεντελη #φωτια_Πεντελη pic.twitter.com/elGyadvxpp
— Marios Ayfantis (@ayfantismarios) August 12, 2024
See videos:
At 6:05 am, a new message was sent from 112 to those in Dionysos Pentelis and Agios Spyridon to head towards Rafina, to be followed a few minutes later by a message for those in the East settlement to head towards Nea Makri.
A little before 5 am, 112 sounded again to alert those in Penteli, Nea Penteli, Melissia, Politia, Ekali, Nea Erythraia, and Drafi to be on standby and to follow the authorities’ instructions.
A little after 5 am, 112 sounded again for the evacuation of Nea and Palaia Penteli.
This was followed by a 112 message to evacuate Dionyssos, Damari, and Damari Rafina.
Then, 112 sounded for readiness in Anthousa for a forest fire in Anthousa.
(information from protothema.gr)
