04 Jul 2022 | 02:43 PM UTC
Greece: Emergency crews responding to wildfire in Schimatari area north of Athens as of July 4
Emergency crews responding to wildfire in Schimatari area, Greece, as of July 4; evacuations ongoing.
Event
Emergency crews are responding to a wildfire burning in the Schimatari area, around 50 km (31 miles) north of Athens, in the Central Greece Region as of late July 4. The fire broke out early July 4 amid high temperatures and strong winds in the region. Around 100 personnel are on-site battling the blaze. Authorities have urged residents to leave the town of Dilesi as a precaution and have suspended services on a local train service. Officials did not immediately report any casualties in connection with the fire.
The General Secretariat of Civil Protection warned July 2 that the ongoing heatwave and strong winds would combine to greatly increase the fire risk across parts of Attica, Central Greece, the North Aegean, the Peloponnese, and Western Greece regions over the coming days. Authorities have urged people in these areas to avoid all outdoor activities that have the potential to ignite fires, including burning bonfires, the use of machinery that can create sparks, and the use of bee smokers.
Authorities will likely keep affected areas cordoned off to vehicular and pedestrian traffic as crews work to extinguish the blaze; the status of nearby roads will probably change over the coming hours. The fire and the emergency response may cause localized business disruptions. Authorities could evacuate additional communities due to fire activity and the needs of response operations. Low visibility from smoke and ashfall could also contribute to traffic delays and congestion in the region and may disrupt operations at nearby airfields.
Advice
Avoid affected areas. Heed all evacuation orders. Seek updated information on road conditions if driving near affected areas; road closures and detours will probably cause traffic congestion and delays. Individuals not under evacuation warnings should consider remaining inside well-ventilated, air-conditioned spaces to reduce exposure to smoke. Charge battery-powered devices in case of prolonged power outages.
