Situation regarding wildfire in Geraneia Mountains appears improved, fire brigade reports
Τhe situation regarding the wildfire that has been raging for two days in the Geraneia Mountains is somewhat better on Friday morning compared to the previous night, according to the latest information from the Fire Brigade.
The firefighters were battling the blaze overnight, while a total of 12 fire-fighting aircraft and three helicopters took off early on Friday to assist from the air.
Α total of 278 firefighters are operating in the area, with 89 vehicles, 10 teams on foot, the fire brigade's special motorised unit, the mobile operation centre "Olympus", 12 planes and two water-dropping helicopters, as well as one fire brigade helicopter. At the same time, volunteer firefighters and construction equipment were assisting in the effort to extinguish the fire.
Nearly 2,000 hectares (20,000 stremma) of pristine forest has been destroyed by the fire that started on Schinos in the Loutraki area around 21:45 on Wednesday night, Deputy Civil Protection Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said during a live emergency briefing on Thursday afternoon.
The pine forest fire, he said, began during cleaning work in an olive grove by the Gerania mountain range and has spread through the dense forest, with the help of strong winds registering 7 and 8 on the Beaufort scale. The forested land had not been maintained for years, the minister said.
