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A large wildfire continued to burn Monday in a pine forest between Makri and Triada sites in the municipality of Dirfys-Messapia, in the central part of the island of Evia (Euboea), with firefighters battling to contain the advancing front and prevent it from threatening nearby agricultural and livestock facilities before dusk.

The fire broke out at about 2:30 p.m. in a remote forested area and spread through dense pine forest. Local authorities warned that livestock and poultry facilities, as well as animal shelters, were at risk as the blaze remained difficult to control. Strong winds were also complicating firefighting efforts and raising concerns over the fire spreading toward the Pissonas area.

Firefighting forces were initially deployed with 55 firefighters, including three wildfire ground teams, 17 vehicles, two firefighting aircraft and three helicopters. Water tankers and heavy machinery from local authorities also assisted.

The firefighting force was later reinforced to 86 firefighters, with three wildfire ground teams and 32 vehicles. Ten firefighting aircraft and three helicopters were operating from the air, one of the helicopters assigned to aerial coordination.

A 112 SMS emergency alert was issued instructing residents in Triada to leave the area and head toward the coastal village of Psachna.

The fire comes as Greece remains on heightened wildfire alert in September, with a category 4, very high fire-risk warning in effect for several parts of the country on Monday. Several other but less ominous wildfires – in Drama and Alexandroupolis prefectures – were reported during the day, prompting the mobilization of ground teams and firefighting aircraft and helicopters in different regions.

Another wildfire in the extreme northwest Konitsa region was also still active.