The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, traveled to Porto Germeno after a meeting of the Civil Protection Coordination Body concluded. Tournas was briefed on-site about the large wildfire’s progress by fire service commanders and the mayor. He then returned to the National Coordination Center for Disaster and Emergency Management (ESKEDIK).

In a statement, Tournas referred to the “unprecedented wind conditions” the country has faced in recent days, saying they are making the work of operational forces “extremely difficult.” He also highlighted the aerial firefighting fleet, noting that in many cases the gale-force winds are preventing aircraft from drawing water or even dropping it, leaving ground crews to fight on their own.

Tournas also expressed his deep sorrow “over the loss of three very important people, three firefighters, three members of the Fire Service who fell in the line of duty.”

Overnight battle in Boeotia as fire front grows

Around 170 firefighters positioned at the “red zone” hotspots in Boeotia are preparing for an overnight battle against the large wildfires burning there.

The latest images are causing serious concern, as the band of fire coming down from the mountain appears to have grown significantly, engulfing a large stretch of forest.

According to the Fire Service’s latest update, at 10:35 p.m., there are two major fire fronts: one in the wider area of Agios Vasileios, and the other around Xironomi.

In the Agios Vasileios-Kalamaki area, the Fire Service is focused simultaneously on Agios Vasileios, Prosilio, and Porto Germeno. Fire officials say this is a large forested area, so forces are spread out, while concentrating on protecting settlements.

More than 100 firefighters remain in the area, with 7 ground teams from the 4th and 10th Special Forest Firefighting Units (EMODE) and 29 vehicles.

At the other major front, around Xironomi, firefighting efforts are focused mainly west and southwest of the town, in the stretch that runs from outside Domvraina to Agios Nikolaos. So far there have been no reports of damage to residential areas, but there is a strong firefighting presence both in the settlements and spread across the wider area.

At that location, 59 firefighters are operating with 3 ground teams from the 4th EMODE and 20 vehicles.