Μake us preferred on Google More than 13,000 hectares have now been scorched by the fire that started five days ago in Boeotia and destroyed hundreds of homes on its destructive path through Kithaironas. The situation appears to be moving toward containment. Ongoing flare-ups remain the main focus of firefighting crews, who are working with both aerial and ground resources.
According to ERT, two new flare-ups broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Veniza and Louba, raising concern among fire officials. Earlier flare-ups in the areas of Psatha, Kandili and Kithaironas were dealt with quickly.
Since early morning, helicopters have been carrying out continuous water drops, refueling from the sea and from special tanks, and operating in hard-to-reach areas where flare-ups appear. At the same time, ground crews are conducting constant patrols, stepping in immediately at every new hot spot to prevent a new fire front from forming.
Afternoon hours are considered especially critical, since rising temperatures, dry ground and stronger winds can help even small hot spots spread. For that reason, authorities are urging continued vigilance, even though the fire’s overall picture looks noticeably better than in previous hours.
Major Damage on Mount Patera
A flare-up broke out around midday on Tuesday (8/4) in a hard-to-reach spot on Mount Patera, above the industrial zone, where mainly aerial resources are being used due to difficult access. Firefighters say they are concerned that stronger winds could cause new problems from the scattered hot spots.
In Kandili, Megara, the front that threatened the settlement is now under control and homes were saved thanks to coordinated ground and air operations. Still, the landscape shows the scale of the destruction, with thousands of hectares of burned land, ash and charred remains.
Firefighting operations are continuing nonstop, with crews aiming to put out even the last hot spot, as the coming hours remain critical to bringing the fire fully under control.
How Louba Was Saved
Firefighters, volunteers, residents and aircraft fought a real hand-to-hand battle on Monday night in Louba, on the southern front of the major fire that has been burning through Attica and Boeotia for days.
It was shortly before 7 p.m. when a fire front came down from the hills above Psatha and, pushed by the wind, began spreading toward Louba. According to the Orange Press Agency, the flames caught everyone off guard and reached the first houses of the settlement within minutes, triggering an alarm.
With flames exceeding 20 meters, firefighters did not wait for air support and went straight into action to try to save the homes. Reinforcements arrived soon after: firefighters from Romania and France, dozens of volunteers, and fire units from municipalities such as Vyronas, Ilioupoli and Marousi formed their own line of defense around the houses.
At the same time, new hot spots kept springing up behind the firefighting lines from embers and burning pinecones, causing panic among residents, who began running as firefighters urged them to leave. Volunteers who had rescued animals from the Psatha area also moved out along with them.
In Psatha, the night was extremely difficult, as a strong flare-up threatened the settlement and damaged homes. Firefighters managed to contain the fire before it could spread further and continue working preventively across the whole burned area.
Environmental Damage
New satellite data released by the National Observatory of Athens’ meteo service reveal the true scale of the environmental change. From 2017 to today, fifteen major wildfires have burned more than 80,000 hectares in the Attica region. Of the roughly 123,000 hectares of forest in mainland Attica, 51,200 have now burned. In other words, 42% of the region’s total forest area has been lost in just one decade.
