Raging fires burned out of control in Dervenohoria, on the border between Attica and Viotia, on Sunday. The forest fires, near Mount Parnitha, began at 22:40 and quickly spread as they were fanned by winds of 7 on the Beaufort scale. Out of control, the fires spread to Kokkini, on the route towards Elefsina and Mandra, west Attica.
115 firefighters battled to keep the fires under control. Eight firefighting jets and five helicopters hovered above the region as 38 people on foot battled to restrict the flames from spreading. A Canadair CL-215 jet was forced to make an emergency landing while on duty. Forests swallowed up lush expanses of pine forest, while the fire-brigade said that the flames licked the village of Stefani.
Private TV news site star.gr reports that the fire broke out at a hard-to-reach area with the fire brigade and people who live in the region suspecting arson.
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