Firefighter Blog

U.S. news coverage of this real life Greek tragedy has been stimulated now that the fires threaten the ancient ruins of Olympia. So far 51 people, including 3 firefighters have died in the blazes.
Olympia is home to 11,000 people, the historic ruins will survive any fire.

From PR-Inside.de

"The worst blazes _ 42 major fronts _ were concentrated in the southern mountains of the Peloponnese and on the island of Evia, north of Athens. Arson has been blamed in several cases, and seven people have been detained on suspicion of causing fires.
Another ancient site was under threat, with flames approaching the Temple of Apollo Epikourios, a 2,500-year-old monument near the town of Andritsaina in the southwestern Peloponnese, said the town's mayor, Tryphon Athanassopoulos. The blaze was about three kilometers (less than 2 miles) away.
«We are trying to save the Temple of Apollo, as well as Andritsaina itself,» he told Greek television.
A separate blaze had abated Sunday in Kalyvia, an area between Athens and the ancient site of Sounion to the south, while 42 fires in various parts of the country had been brought under control.
Nearly 1,000 soldiers, backed by military helicopters, reinforced firefighters stretched to the limit by Greece's worst summer of wildfires."

And this;

"The government, which has declared a nationwide state of emergency, announced Sunday it would offer up to ¤10,000 (US$13,615) to people who lost relatives or property."

Labels: 2007 fire season, Greek Wildfires