The large fire that broke out on Friday afternoon in the Sellia area, in the municipality of Agios Vasilios, Rethymno, with the fire front having spread toward the Souda area and firefighting crews battling to contain it, as reported to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA) by the fire department’s coordination center.
The fire department has mobilized extensively, while helicopters have been conducting aerial operations, continuously dropping water.
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The fire broke out around 7:15 p.m. in an area of farmland and forest, while the firefighters’ efforts are being hampered by strong northerly winds reaching 6 Beaufort, with gusts reaching 7 Beaufort in some areas.
Shortly after the fire broke out, the 112 emergency number was activated. A message sent at 7:30 p.m. called for the precautionary evacuation of anyone in the areas of Fotinari and Souda, heading toward Koraka Rodakinou Beach.
Water tankers from the municipality of Agios Vasilios are also assisting in the operation, while police forces have been deployed throughout the wider area to implement the necessary traffic controls. Meanwhile, Coast Guard vessels have also been placed on standby.
Efforts are currently focused on containing the fire and preventing the fire front from spreading further, with crews operating under particularly difficult conditions due to the winds.
It should be noted that as of today, the area is classified as Category 4, meaning there is a very high risk of fire, with the relevant authorities on high alert.
Meanwhile, a fire that broke out in a forested area in the Pili region of Kos is currently underway, prompting a large-scale mobilization of firefighting forces and relevant agencies.
According to the official statement from the fire department, 15 firefighters with six vehicles, as well as volunteers, are operating at the scene, while aerial operations have been carried out, three firefighting aircraft and two helicopters have carried out aerial water drops. Construction machinery and water tankers from the local government are also assisting in the operation.
Reinforcements are also arriving from Rhodes, as seven firefighters from the 11th EMODE are traveling to Kos via a Fire Department helicopter to assist in the firefighting efforts.
Speaking to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, the Deputy Regional Governor of the Dodecanese, Christos Efstratiou, emphasized that the entire response system is on high alert and is fighting to bring the fire under control.
Efforts are focused on containing the fire front and preventing it from spreading further, with strong ground and air forces operating in the area.
Source: APE-MPE/PROTO THEMA
