A wildfire that broke out in Greece on Monday morning in Kouvaras, East Attica remains active as strong ground and aerial firefighting forces battle to contain the flames under adverse weather conditions.
Speaking to national broadcaster ERT, a Fire Service spokesperson stated that winds exceeding gale Force 7 (gusts over 50 km/h) were blowing in the area, driving the rapid spread of the fire. The front is currently moving east along the mountainous ridge, where steep terrain is complicating suppression efforts. “The fire has entered a ravine,” the spokesperson noted.
Wildfire damage reported near Kouvaras in Attica
According to initial reports from the Fire Service, the flames damaged two business premises on the outskirts of the Agios Stylianos settlement. A full assessment will take place once the fire is extinguished. Strong winds have since shifted the main front away from residential areas and pushed it toward the mountain ravine, although the inaccessible landscape continues to hinder ground crews.
Saronikos Mayor Dimitris Papachristou confirmed in speaking with Meganews that homes in Agios Stylianos were initially threatened before the fire moved past. “The fire has moved away from the inhabited zone,” Papachristou said, adding that the most challenging section remains high on the slopes where ground vehicles cannot deploy, leaving aerial drops as the primary line of defense.
Civil Protection issued two emergency alerts via the 112 system early Monday.
Related: Why Greece’s Forests Burn—and Why Wildfire Prevention May Matter More Than Ever
Deployment of European firefighters
A total of 197 firefighters with seven specialized wildfire walking units (1st and 8th EMODE), volunteers, and 42 vehicles are currently operating on site. The deployment includes international reinforcements under the EU pre-positioning program:
- 23 firefighters and 4 vehicles from France
- 24 firefighters and 5 vehicles from Romania
Aerial support includes two firefighting aircraft and seven helicopters (including one coordinating air operations), with water tankers supplied by the Municipality of Saronikos.
Related: Timelapse Captures Greece’s Devastating Wildfire Spreading Toward Porto Germeno
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