Fire: Fire fronts in Attica remain out of control (live stream)

News update carried out The Fire Department's press officer, Mr. Artopios, at 8 a.m. on Monday regarding the major fire which broke out yesterday in the Penteli and ever since is burning the Attica. He emphasized that active fronts are burning in Geraka, Anthousa, Pallini, Dione and on either side of it avenue Marathon. Great emphasis is placed on  southwestern side of fire, on the border with Attica Street, near of its facilities OASA in In Bloom and southeast again, along the border with Attiki Odos near its facilities VIANEX. According to reports, the perimeter of the fire is estimated at 7,000 stremmas.

There is a high risk for all areas within the fire’s perimeter. Mr. Artopios noted that 485 firefighters are currently on the scene, along with 28 teams of ground crews and 120 vehicles, while Romanian firefighters also remain on the scene. Five aircraft and four helicopters are operating from the air.

A short while ago, the tragic news broke that 80-year-old put end in life when he saw that his house was engulfed in flames. According to a report by OPEN, this was the fourth time this man’s house had burned down, a situation the 80-year-old could no longer bear, leading him to take his own life. Reports indicate that he took his own life with a gun.

An alarm was sounded earlier following reports of leak natural gas by residents of Edison Hill in Pallini, who, for at least For two hours, they tried to contain the fire who wouldn't back down nothing. As reported by OPEN, a high-ranking government official noted that the flow has been shut off.

Journalist Nikos Stravelakis reported that the The hill was surrounded from the flames, and there are huge disasters from fire in houses in the area. He emphasized that he sees a fiery a language that is not simple fire. «The natural gas pipe has burst, and there’s a risk that all of this could turn into bourloto», the journalist noted, adding that the fire is 10 meters, and that the smell of natural gas is strong. «This is happening right next to a complex of 200 houses, and houses on the hill behind are burning.».

Police forces who went so far as to two hours lateAccording to OPEN, they evacuated civilians from the area and have notified the company– The utility company should send a special team to assess the situation in order to prevent the worst from happening and allow the firefighters to do their job. As Nikos Stravelakis reported on OPEN, after the authorities arrived—which took a long time—the massive blaze was brought under control and the natural gas leak was contained.

At the same time, the fire is burning houses in Pallini, in the Drafi and in In Bloom while aerial vehicles They have difficulty throwing water tolimit the front on the one hand, because due to strong winds and, secondly, because in the area there are homes.

In the area there are many scattered hot spots fire and the circumstances aren't helping the project of firefighters. Houses have already burned down in Pallini, and the extent of the damage will be assessed once the fire has been extinguished.

Efforts are currently focused on Marathon Avenue to prevent the fire from spreading to the lower part of Pallini. The winds are creating scattered hot spots and fire pockets, which are constantly changing direction, forcing a redeployment of forces and a continuous chase of the fire by the Fire Department. The president of the Officers’ Union, Mr. Tsigas, noted on OPEN that conditions are such that, despite the fact that firefighters confronted the fire from the very beginning, they were unable to contain it.

Update from the fire department

Our top priority remains safeguarding human life, as well as protecting critical public infrastructure and citizens’ private property.

A total of 485 firefighters are on the scene, with 28 ground crews and 120 vehicles. Romanian firefighters also remain on the scene. The OLYMPOS mobile operations center has been deployed to coordinate the forces, while live footage of the fire is continuously provided by drones deployed by the Fire Department. Five aircraft and four helicopters are already engaged in aerial firefighting operations—one of which is dedicated to aerial coordination—while four additional aircraft and three helicopters have been mobilized.

Support continues to be provided by numerous officials from the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, the Forest Service, the National Ambulance Service (EKAV), local authorities, and the Hellenic Police (ELAS), which has deployed 626 police officers with 232 vehicles, primarily to facilitate the safe movement of citizens, their evacuation to safe locations, and the protection of their property.

The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianidis, and the entire leadership of the Ministry, in constant communication with the Ministries of Health, the Interior, and Citizen Protection. Updates on the fire’s progress are provided continuously so that decisions on providing all necessary assistance can be made immediately.

The situation in Attica is nightmarish

It was a nightmarish night in Penteli due to the fire that broke out yesterday afternoon. Civil Protection forces, led by the Fire Department, battled the flames all night long in an effort to contain the fire fronts; however, the speed, the the strength of the winds and their constantly changing direction, were creating constantly fronts and made it difficult the work done by the forces.

At the moment, there are fronts in Pallini, In Bloom, Penteli, Drafi and in some places in the Geraka, while the wind is blowing there stormy winds which make the forces’ work extremely difficult. Wind speeds in the area reached peak values well over 80 km per hour, and due to the intensity and speed of the winds, the fire throughout the night, shifting constantly direction.

They have begun at first light aerial water dropsA total of 3 aircraft and 5 helicopters are currently operating in the area. On the ground, 485 firefighters are operating with 28 teams of ground crews and 120 vehicles, while volunteer firefighters, local government water tankers, and heavy equipment. In addition, the Olympus Mobile Operations Center is on site to coordinate the forces, while unmanned aerial vehicles are continuously providing a real-time view of the fire.

In total, there have been Hellenic Police 600 removals citizens to a safe location, while during the night, a total of 5 alerts were issued via 112 to evacuate residents from Penteli and the area around the 414 Military Hospital, the eastern parts of Gerakas, Voula, Pikermi, and Panorama in Pallini, Pallini and Nea Pallini, as well as to avoid traveling on Marathon Avenue, from the Attiki Odos interchange to Pikermi, due to the fire in the area.

According to the Fire Department, damage to homes has been reported so far; however, a full assessment will be conducted once the fire is under control.

Airborne units are out again – 5 messages from 112

Wind speeds, as recorded in the area, reached their maximum values, reachingexceeds 80 km/h by a wide margin. The all-night battle was fought by all Civil Protection forces under extremely adverse conditions at every level. During the night, five alerts were sent via 112 to coordinate the organized evacuation of civilians to safety.

Specifically, at 2:00 a.m. for the Penteli area and the vicinity of the 414th Military Hospital, at 2:50 a.m. for the eastern areas of Gerakas, at 4:30 a.m. for Voula-Pikermi and Panorama-Pallini, at 5:20 a.m. for Pallini and Nea Pallini, while at 6:05 a.m., instructions were issued via 112 advising against travel on Marathon Avenue from the Attiki Odos interchange to Pikermi. Damage to homes has been reported, and an assessment will be conducted once the fire is under control.

The OLYMPOS mobile operations center has also been deployed to the field to coordinate the forces, while real-time footage of the fire is continuously provided by drones deployed by the Fire Department. Assistance continues to be provided by the Hellenic National Defense General Staff, the Forestry Service, the Hellenic Police, the National Ambulance Service (EKAV), and all local authorities.

The Region of Attica has deployed nearly all of its resources, including water tankers and construction equipment, to address this difficult situation, while reinforcements have already been dispatched to the area from most regions of Greece.

A crew rotation is currently underway to refresh the personnel of all agencies. Ground forces remain very strong, while for aerial firefighting, 3 aircraft and 4 helicopters have been deployed since daybreak—one of which is for aerial coordination— and an additional 4 aircraft and 3 helicopters have been mobilized.