Firefighters scramble to contain fires outside Athens before winds and
high temperatures return
[August 05, 2026]
By DEREK GATOPOULOS and SYLVIE CORBET
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Firefighters raced to exploit a break in high
winds to strengthen containment lines on fires west of the Greek capital
Tuesday ahead of stronger gusts and hotter temperatures in the coming
days.
Several fires that burned through mountain communities and coastal areas
west of Athens were brought under control overnight. Planes and
helicopters dumped water inside the contained perimeters through the
morning, dousing hot spots while the winds stayed calm.
“There is a huge fire load in the area and the risk goes up as the day
progresses,” said Costas Tsingas, head of the Greek Firefighters
Association. “The goal is for the day to end better than it started.”
Fires started through negligence prompt wave of arrests
Burning for a fifth day, the blaze outside Athens prompted the
evacuation of more than 1,000 people and was blamed on a faulty power
line from a wind farm.
Restrictions and park closures are imposed locally according to
fire‑risk levels. Authorities say 33 people were arrested between June
29 and Aug. 2 for starting fires, including 30 through negligence and
three on suspicion of arson. Most of the negligence cases involved farm
work carried out despite local bans, including welding.
On Tuesday, crews were working against the clock: Winds typically pick
up in the afternoon, a coastal phenomenon common across the
Mediterranean in summer as land heats faster than the sea and draws in
stronger breezes.
The army deployed tracked earth movers to carve fire breaks across the
scorched hillsides, while specialist units pushed into forest areas on
foot to extinguish smoldering embers before they could reignite.
The evacuations from around the seaside resort of Porto Germeno and
other areas west of the capital included more than 250 rescued by boats
from beaches.
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Firefighters approach towering flames on Mount Kithairon near Porto
Germeno, northwest of Athens, Greece, Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. (AP
Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Wildfires in France expose ammunition
Prolonged heat waves across Europe this summer have left France
tinder-dry, fueling blazes that this week exposed long-buried
ammunition in a forested area.
The massive wildfire outside the southwestern city of Bordeaux,
which has scorched about 420 square kilometers (162 square miles),
uncovered what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition.
Demining experts have found more than 400 shells and other munitions
at Le Porge, the hardest-hit town, where 183 homes were destroyed.
Residents described hearing explosions believed to be blasts from
the old shells, authorities said.
The fire remained contained and thousands of evacuees were allowed
to return Monday. More than 224,000 people fled in France’s largest
civilian evacuation outside wartime.
In the southern Netherlands, firefighters and military helicopters
battled a forest blaze for the second day Tuesday amid high
temperatures and shifting winds. The fire has destroyed 100 hectares
of trees and was burning out of control but was not immediately
threatening homes. Nobody has been injured in the blaze. The cause
is not known.
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Corbet reported from Paris.
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