Wildfire on Greek island under control, 2 firefighters injured

Wildfire on Greek island under control, 2 firefighters injured

25 March 2008

Greece — A wildfire that prompted authorities to declare a state of emergency on the Greek island of Skopelos was brought under control late Tuesday, officials said.

The fire service said two firefighters suffered light burns in the blaze, which ravaged more than 300 hectares (740 acres) of forest land but did not threaten inhabited areas.

Gale-force winds blowing in the area hampered efforts to extinguish the fire, which broke out Monday and quickly spread despite overnight rainfall. The causes of the blaze were unclear.

The fire service said a total of 53 wildfires broke out Monday and early Tuesday throughout the country.
Greece often suffers from extensive forest fires, but they usually occur during the summer months. In August, devastating fires raged out of control across the country for a week, killing more than 66 people.

24. November 2017/by GFMCadmin