Partial evacuation ordered in Haidari as wildfire burns west of Athens
Greek authorities ordered the partial evacuation of part of Haidari on Friday after a forest fire broke out on a nearby mountain west of Athens. The suburb lies about 11 kilometres west of central Athens, placing the blaze close to a densely populated part of the capital's wider area. Emergency mobile phone alerts were sent as firefighters worked to contain the fire.
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The fire started on Friday morning in the Agios Vasilios area of Boeotia, according to the fire department. More than 105 firefighters and 29 vehicles were deployed to the scene. Officials said gale-force winds were fanning the flames and making aerial firefighting difficult.
Aircraft were limited by turbulence over the area, with only one helicopter able to take water from the sea to help tackle the blaze. That restriction reduced the ability of crews to attack the fire from the air at a time when ground teams were already under pressure. The evacuation order for part of Haidari reflected the immediate risk posed by the fire's proximity to homes and infrastructure.
The incident comes during a period of heightened wildfire risk in southern Europe, where hot, dry and windy conditions have made firefighting more difficult. Greece has faced repeated summer fire emergencies in recent years, and the country's civil protection system has increasingly relied on rapid alerts, ground crews and aircraft to limit damage. Fires near Athens are particularly sensitive because of the concentration of people, transport links and public services around the capital.
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Boeotia, where the fire began, is a region north-west of Athens that includes rural and mountainous areas where vegetation can dry quickly in summer. The combination of terrain and strong winds can allow fires to spread rapidly before crews can fully contain them. In this case, the emergency response focused on preventing the blaze from moving closer to the suburban edge of the capital.
It was not immediately clear how much land had burned or whether any homes had been damaged. Authorities had not reported casualties in the supplied information. The situation remained active, with firefighters continuing efforts to bring the blaze under control and officials likely to monitor wind conditions and the need for further evacuation measures.
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