Fire in NE Attica shows improvement; no single front, but many active pockets

The fire that broke out in Varnavas on Sunday and spread to northeastern Attica Region has shown improvement, Fire Departments spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said in an update on the fires late on Monday.

"Ground firefighting forces remain strong. We do not have a fire front any more, but several active pockets of fire, especially in the greater area of Penteli mountain and Marathonas Lake," he added.

Responding about reports of a missing person in the fire region, he said that the Fire Brigade Operations Center has not received such a call.

According to information by the Civil Protection on Monday evening, firefighters had been focusing on the following main fronts: Daou Pentelis, Palea and Nea Penteli, Dionyssos, Vrilissia, and Afidnes. 

Additionally, the Fire Department spokesperson had reported in a previous briefing that 30 alerts had been issued through 112, most recently for the evacuation of residents from New and Old Penteli, Patima in Halandri, Patima in Vrilissia, Krassa Ano Vrilissia, as well as from Dionysos and Kalentzi Marathon. 

Varthakogiannis mentioned that fires in Ambelia (Farsala), Politika (Evia), Voni (Iraklio, Crete), Aginara (Pyrgos, Ilia), and Ragio (Thesprotia), they are all under control, while those in Xanthi, Paleopyrgos in Nafpaktos area, and Terpsithea in Ano Glyfada are contained.

RescEU

In addition, more countries have responded to Greece's activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) besides Czechia, France, Italy, and Romania.

Specifically, he said, the help per country would be as follows:

Serbia, 1 helicopter and 35 firefighters with 10 fire trucks

Romania, 44 firefighters with 4 water trucks

Türkiye, 2 aircraft for water dropping

France, which earlier reports said would send a Super Puma helicopter arriving Monday night, will be also sending 200 firefighters with 28 water trucks, Varthakogiannis said. 

An earlier report said that Italy would be sending two Canadair-type aircraft, arriving on Tuesday morning, Czechia would also send the same day 75 firefighters and 25 fire trucks, including among them 9 water trucks, and Spain was also expected to send help.

Firefighters

Attica Region fires on Monday involved 702 firefighters and 27 specialized forest firefighters with 199 fire trucks, 35 aerial airplanes and helicopters, and volunteers.

AMNA