Related: Feds Started the California Fires
I don't see anyone benefiting from these. As a history major, this makes me sad.
"People flee as wildfires threaten villages near Athens; Dozens of blazes break out, fanned by high winds" by Demetris Nellas, Associated Press | August 23, 2009
ATHENS - Dozens of wildfires broke out across Greece, torching olive groves, cutting off villages and sending residents fleeing yesterday....
Fanned by high winds, the fires have stretched the state’s resources thin as firefighters tried to extinguish at least half a dozen major conflagrations.
“A total of 65 fires have broken out across Greece since late (Friday),’’ fire brigade spokesman Yiannis Kalpakis said.
The government declared a state of emergency yesterday for the region of Attica and warned that continuing winds made it likely more fires would break out over the weekend. “We urge residents to remain calm and follow our instructions,’’ Kalpakis said....
The Greek Army confirmed that HAWK antiaircraft missiles had been evacuated from a base near Marathon. High winds across Greece helped fan other fires, notably on the Aegean island of Skyros and on the island of Zakynthos, where about 750 acres have burned.
There is a further uncontrolled blaze on the island of Evia. Prevailing high winds and the dry climate result in hundreds of wildfires across Greece every summer, although most of them burn out or are contained before they spread too far.
The country, and especially the Peloponnese peninsula in the south, was devastated by a series of fires in late August 2007 that burned a total of 660,000 acres and that killed 63 people, destroyed entire villages, and threatened the site of Ancient Olympia.
Obviously, the Peloponnesian War is standard fare for western students.
It must seem like hell to those caught up in it.
A volunteer tried to battle a forest fire in the village of Kato Souli, 31 miles northwest of Athens, yesterday. More than 90 wildfires have ignited since Saturday across Greece. (John Kolesidis/ Reuters)
"Wildfires imperil homes, ancient Greece temples; Thousands flee; critics lament slow response" by Demetris Nellas, Associated Press | August 24, 2009
ATHENS - A raging wildfire raced down a mountain slope in Greece toward the town of Marathon yesterday, nearing two ancient temples while despairing residents pleaded for firefighters and equipment that were nowhere to be seen.
Please, no! WTF good is GOVERNMENT, dammit?!!!!
Tens of thousands of residents of Athens’ northern suburbs evacuated their homes, fleeing in cars or on foot....
More than 90 wildfires have ignited since Saturday across Greece, and six major fires were burning late yesterday. The Athens fire began on Mount Penteli, which divides Athens from the Marathon plain, and has spread down both sides of the mountain.
Oh, no. I kid you not, this is bringing me to tears. I decided on history at school because I loved it (thought I did, anyway), and this is heartbreaking!
Driven by gale-force winds yesterday, the blaze grew fastest near Marathon, from which the modern long-distance foot race takes its name....
I'm just wondering why this next bit was whacked:
Help was on the way. Two planes were expected from France, and Cyprus was sending a helicopter, four fire engines, and 60 firefighters, fire brigade spokesman Yiannis Kapakis said.
The Ministry of Defense said Austria will send six planes and helicopters.
Why whack-a-whack?
The nine helicopters and 14 planes that operated during the day, including two planes sent from Italy, dumped some 4,000 tons of water on the fire, but apparently without much success.
Television showed airplanes and helicopters dropping water on a forest outside Agios Stefanos - and the fire re-igniting moments after they left.
About 58 square miles of pine forest, brush and olive groves have burned. The forests around Athens’s northern suburbs have helped the fire spread.
Oh! That's not going to help anything!
--more--"
As anyone who has ever cooked knows, it is hard to put out a "grease" fire -- and this one sounds like a hell of a burn.
Take care and safety, good Greek people!
