Residents in the village of Thymari, near the coastal town of Palaia Fokaia, southeast of Athens, are accessing the damage caused by Thursday’s wildfire that engulfed homes, yards and nearby forested areas.

Reports say three homes in the village were completely destroyed, while dozens more sustained serious structural damage.

According to state broadcaster ERT, the blaze is believed to have started in a residential courtyard and, driven by force 5–6 winds, spread quickly to surrounding areas.

According to ERT, preliminary findings by arson investigators suggest that the blaze may have been sparked by an electrical fault – possibly from a damaged power cable igniting dry vegetation.

The fire was eventually brought under control by late Thursday evening. A total of 170 firefighters, 64 vehicles and 24 aircraft were deployed, with support also coming from volunteers, local agencies and the military.

Temperatures are forecast to remain high on Friday throughout the country and are expected to reach 40 to 41 degrees Celsius in some places on the mainland, with Civil Protection warning of a very high risk of fire (category 4) in Attica, southern Evia, the northern Aegean and Monemvasia in the Peloponnese.

Source: Ekathimerini.com