ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek firefighters on Sunday managed to contain a wildfire that spread out of control overnight on the Aegean island of Serifos, damaging homes and forcing the evacuation of several villages.
Dozens of firefighters with 15 fire trucks battled to contain the blaze, backed by a helicopter bringing in water. The fire had started in low vegetation on Saturday and spread rapidly, fanned by strong winds, the fire department said.
The forest fire, which at one point spread for 15 kilometers, damaged holiday homes and warehouses, the island’s mayor, Kostas Revinthis, told Greek television.
With hot and windy conditions across much of the country, dozens of wildfires broke out on Saturday and authorities advised people to stay away from forested areas.
A wildfire in a mountainous forest area outside Athens had subsided by Sunday morning but about 160 firefighters were still extinguishing it, authorities said.
Forecasters said the strong winds are not expected to ease until later Sunday.
Forest fires are common in the Mediterranean country, but have become more devastating in recent years as summers have become hotter, drier and windier, which scientists link to the effects of climate change.
Following last summer’s deadly wildfires and the warmest winter on record, Greece has developed a new doctrine, including deploying an extra fire truck for each new blaze, stepping up air support and clearing forests.