Wildfire in Kouvaras near Athens, homes at risk

The Fire Department is on a war footing  due to a fire that broke out in the Kouvaras area of Attica and is burning near houses.

Ground and air forces were immediately mobilized, while there are residences near the point where the fire front has broken out.

According to the latest information from notia.gr, it seems that the evacuation of the Monastery of Iera Skepi and the settlement of Heloni, which is located near the area, has been requested, while the fire front rises towards Mount Panio.

As it became known, a few minutes ago with a new 112 message, an evacuation order was given for the Peta settlement.

Strengthening of northerly winds

The cause of the very unfavorable fire-meteorological conditions is the strengthening of the northerly winds (6-7 bf, locally 8 bf) over the Aegean and the eastern mainland, in combination with the very hot and dry conditions that prevail in our country during the of recent days, and which have significantly increased the flammability of forest fuels.

Overall, the fire-meteorological conditions on Monday 17.07.2023 are expected to be characterized by the particularly dangerous, for the occurrence and spread of forest fires, Hot – Dry – Windy type of weather.

Which regions are in the “red”

According to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection, a very high risk of fire (risk category 4) is predicted for the following areas:

Region of Attica (including the island of Kythira)
Region of Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia, PE Fthiotida)
Peloponnese Region (Corinthia Region, Argolis Region, Laconia Region, Arcadia Region)
South Aegean Region (Cyclades)
North Aegean Region (Lesvos Region, Chios Region, Samos Region, Ikaria Region)
Region of Crete