Firefighters battle forest fire on Athens outskirts

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

ATHENS (AFP) — Firefighters battled a major fire Wednesday on Mount Hymettus on the outskirts of Athens that burned through one of the Greek capital's last forests but posed no threat to homes.

"We are trying to contain the fire, a very difficult blaze which moved with incredible speed," fire department spokesman Yiannis Kapakis told the Mega television channel.

Thirty-seven fire engines, 150 firefighters, 100 soldiers, 13 water bombers and four helicopters were mobilised to fight the blaze that broke out shortly after midday near Glyka Nera, around 30 kilometres (20 miles) east of Athens.

Winds over 50 kilometres (30 miles) an hour pushed the flames to the summit of the mountain, out of reach of ground units, but firefighting aircraft kept the flames from...