Fire in Attica: Blaze on Mount Pentelis, Two Hospitals Evacuated – 29 Aerial Units Battling, Concerns Over Winds

Dramatic hours are unfolding in northeastern Attica as the fire that started in Varnava on Sunday afternoon is “rapidly advancing and has reached Mount Penteli,” as announced by the Fire Department spokesperson shortly before 6 AM today, “despite the superhuman efforts of all civil protection forces.”

The situation exacerbated, as meteorologists have predicted and the Fire Department spokesperson confirmed, that winds are expected to strengthen further in the coming hours. These winds have already contributed to the fire’s spread over a vast distance, burning everything in its path.

According to Mr. Vathrakogiannis, 510 firefighters are battling the fire fronts with 16 forest commando units and dozens of vehicles. Additionally, with the first light of day, a total of 29 aerial units are expected to fly over the fronts in two shifts—the first shift will begin with 11 aircraft and 6 helicopters.

See photos and video

The whole plane was speechless when we saw it. Good luck to the residents and rescuers #fire #Marathon #fire pic.twitter.com/AZ5m9xjnWy

– // (@anxi3tyattack) August 11, 2024</blockquote

Forecast Weather Greece
The #fire in Varnavas from a civilian plane#fire

Photo by Ted kalyvas dermezis pic.twitter.com/SkPDBd6Nh8

– The Notabook (@TNotabook) August 11, 2024</blockquote

Views from plane landing Mordor…er Athens.#light pic.twitter.com/bcFC9Ve5Ff

– Karyothraystis…. (@karyothraystis) August 11, 2024</blockquote

It is recalled that shortly before 6 a.m. the fire had reached Penteli with evacuation orders for Palea and Nea Penteli and the two hospitals in the area.

Οι πυροσβέστες σε ετοιμότητα στο νοσοκομείο Παίδων Πεντέλης #φωτια #φωτιατωρα #Πεντελη #φωτια_Πεντελη pic.twitter.com/elGyadvxpp

— Marios Ayfantis (@ayfantismarios) August 12, 2024

At 6:05 AM, a new message was sent from 112 advising those in Drafi, Penteli, and Agios Spyridonas to head toward Rafina. A few minutes later, another message followed for those in the Anatoli settlement, directing them to move toward Nea Makri.
Shortly before 5 AM, 112 sounded again, warning residents in Penteli, Nea Penteli, Melissia, Politeia, Ekali, Drafi, and Nea Erythraia to be on alert and to follow the instructions of the authorities.

Ενεργοποίηση 1⃣1⃣2⃣

Δασική πυρκαγιά στις περιοχές #Πεντέλη #Νέα_Πεντέλη #Μελίσσια #Πολιτεία #Εκάλη #Ντράφι & #Νέα_Ερυθραία

Παραμείνετε σε ετοιμότητα

Ακολουθείτε τις οδηγίες των Αρχών

https://t.co/kexUnlnGMV@pyrosvestiki@hellenicpolice

— 112 Greece (@112Greece) August 12, 2024

Traffic Arrangements in Varnavas, Stamata, Drosia, Dionysos, Penteli
1) Mikrochoriou Avenue
2) Grammatikou-Kapandritiou Road towards Varnavas
3) Entrance to the Varnavas settlement
4) Marathon Avenue, from Alexander the Great Street, in the direction towards Marathon Lake
5) Manta and Kapandritiou Road towards Varnavas
6) Exit from the village of Grammatikou
7) Dionysou Avenue, Anatoli Area
8) Dionysou Avenue and Thiseos Street
9) Alexander the Great Street from Agios Stefanos towards Marathon
10) Marathon Avenue and Konstantinopouleos Street
11) Alexander the Great Street and Makedonias Street
12) Alexander the Great Street and Papanikoli Street
13) Drosias-Stamatas Avenue and Makariou Street
14) Marathon Avenue and Pipperopoulou Street
15) Marathon Avenue and Anapafseos Street
16) Marathon Avenue and Echetlou Street
17) Dionysou Avenue and Metropolitan Kidonion Street
18) Dionysou Avenue and Kairi Street
19) Dionysou Avenue and Agios Ioannis Street
20) Agios Stefanos Junction
21) Dionysou Avenue and Demokratias Street
22) Dionysou Avenue and Rodon Street
23) Grammatikou towards Kaletsi
24) “My Market” Grammatikou towards Ano Souli
25) Skoufos Street and Dionysou Avenue
26) Vasileos Georgiou B and Hippokratous Street
27) Kleisthenous Street and Anapafseos Street
28) Pentelis Avenue and Anapafseos Street
29) Alexandrou Panagouli Street and Pentelis Avenue
30) Palaia Penteli Square
Firefighter Injured
A firefighter operating in Marathon was taken by ambulance from the Nea Makri Health Center with burns on his hands and legs. The doctors decided he should be transferred by EKAB ambulance to the 251 General Air Force Hospital. According to reports, the firefighter has second-degree burns that need to be treated by plastic surgeons.
“At least 20 houses have burned in Varnavas, one within the settlement. If the aerial units don’t take off, the fire will burn for five days. The ground crews can’t get close. They will only be able to approach when the flames are low. We have seen houses, cars, and animals burn. The fire is very strong,” stated Panagiotis Katsikis, a volunteer firefighter in Varnavas, to MEGA.

The forces have increased. As of shortly after 2 AM, 470 firefighters, 16 ground units, 132 vehicles, volunteers, municipal water tanks, and construction machinery were operating on the fire fronts. From the air, until the last light of the day, 16 aircraft and 13 helicopters were mobilized, two of them for coordination. Heavy machinery and water tanks from the Attica Region and the Armed Forces also assisted in the firefighting efforts.

See videos and photos from Dionysos
Fire in Dionysos (near the Dionsovouni fire lookout, flames close to houses)

The post Fire in Attica: Blaze on Mount Pentelis, Two Hospitals Evacuated – 29 Aerial Units Battling, Concerns Over Winds appeared first on ProtoThema English.