Firefighters and Civil Protection forces battled the flames overnight, and are still fighting, in the fire that broke out at noon on Wednesday (31/7) in Pissona, Evia.
The goal of the Fire Department is to bring the large fire under control before strong winds start blowing again in the area, as expected from Thursday morning, according to meteorologists.
The fire has covered a very large part of central Evia and is destroying the only piece of pine forest that was left untouched by the previous disasters experienced by the island three years ago.
The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, as well as the leadership of the Fire Brigade went to Evia. Throughout the night ground forces operated in cooperation with the forest service. The main focus was on the east side of the fire. "The weather conditions at night allow us to reduce the intensity of the fire and at the first light of day with two rounds of aerial vehicles we will be able to control and contain it," said late last night the chief of the Fire Department, Lt.-Gen. , Theodoros Vagias.
Fire zones with machines were created during the night by the ground forces together with the forestry service that focused east of the settlement of Afrati, in order to stop the progress of the fire. As the winds abated, firefighters worked hard to contain the fire front.
With the first light of day, more than 20 aerial vehicles began in two rounds the aerial water drops.
The 112 messages were continuous in order to inform the residents of the area and where necessary to evacuate, as happened in Afrati and Kamaria.
Kikilias: "Battle night in Evia"
"For one night of battle" the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, spoke from Evia. "The work we do together with all the agencies is the zones. The work that can be done overnight. Safety first, so that we can find a better situation at first light that the aerials will attempt. No one will leave here all night, until we do our job", said Mr. Kikilias last night.
Evia: Strong forces of the Fire Department continue to operate
Strong ground forces remain and operate at the site, namely 183 firefighters with 8 forest commando groups and 52 vehicles as well as a large number of volunteers. In addition, local government and the Armed Forces are assisting with construction machinery and water tankers, while Greek Police forces have been deployed in the area to facilitate the movement of residents.
Yesterday, 19 aerial vehicles (11 aircraft and 8 helicopters, of which 2 helicopters for coordination) attempted from the air.
All civil protection forces are coordinated by the OLYMPOS Mobile Operations Center.
A total of 45 fires were dealt with in the last 24 hours
In the last 24 hours, 45 new fires broke out and 37 of them were dealt with in the first year, as it became known from the Fire Department. The most difficult of these, as the press representative of the Fire Brigade, fire chief, Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, said in an emergency briefing, was the fire that broke out in the Pissonas area of Evia, "due to the geomorphology of the ground and the strong winds". As he said, "the wind gusts reached 7 Beaufort, while the very low humidity levels constantly created spots and new foci further south of the fire."
Messages from 112
A total of three messages were issued by 112, the first for information, the second for the removal of residents from the settlement of Afrati and the third was issued for the removal of the small settlements of Kamari, Kalyvia and Agios Georgios Armas in the direction of Chalkida.
It is noted that a very high risk of fire (risk category 4) is predicted today in Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Corinth and Argolis.
Source: iefimerida.gr
