Fire breaks out north of Athens
Four water-dumping craft and more than 50 firefighters were on Tuesday morning trying to bring under control a blaze that broke out in a wooded area between the northern Athenian suburbs of Stamata and Aghios Stefanos, a task that was made particularly difficult by strong winds.
The fire started shortly before 11 a.m. on the road to the historic site of Marathon and spread to parts of Stamata and Aghios Stefanos, both affluent residential suburbs.
Authorities are concerned that powerful winds may steer the fire toward homes, after already having knocked out several electricity poles and causing power cuts.
Speaking to Skai TV on Tuesday, the deputy for civil protection of the Municipality of Dionysos, to which both Stamata and Aghios Stefanos belong, said there is reason to believe the fire was caused by arsonists.
