Greek Wildfire Near Athens Rages Into Fourth Day, Helicopter Collision Claims Two Firefighters

On August 3, a wildfire northwest of Athens entered its fourth day, driven by strong, erratic “Meltemi” winds that have fanned flames across pine forests, farmland and residential areas near the communities of Kandili and Agia Skepi. Thick black smoke and red fire fronts have forced evacuations by land and sea. A firefighting helicopter collision near the seaside town of Psatha, about 40 km (25 mi) from Athens, killed two crew members—a Danish pilot and a Greek fire-service official—while the two occupants of the second helicopter survived after an emergency landing.

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More than 400 firefighters and 21 aircraft have been deployed, supplemented by heavy machinery carving fire-breaks to protect homes. Deputy Climate Crisis Minister Kostas Katsafados said that the recent gusts have prevented water-bombers from drawing seawater, leaving ground crews to fight the blaze alone. The effort is further strained by a thinly-staffed, ageing fire service, a legacy of the 2009-2018 debt-crisis hiring freeze; Nikos Lavranos, head of the Federation of Unions of Fire Service Employees, warned that exhausted firefighters cannot operate effectively.

Reuters

Preliminary findings from the fire brigade indicate that a separate fire that started in nearby Boeotia last week and traveled 25 km (15 mi) was ignited by sparks from vibrating conductors on a private power line serving wind turbines. An electrical engineer and a contractor have been arrested on suspicion of arson. Faulty power lines have been identified as the leading cause of major Greek wildfires in recent years, surpassing arson and negligence.

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Fire-brigade officials emphasized that the helicopter formation was “not appropriate,” citing inadequate vertical and horizontal separation and descent rate. Faidon Karaiosifidis, an aviation accident investigator, added that the low-altitude brush-up contributed to the crash. The deputy climate minister highlighted the impact of the winds on aerial suppression efforts, while union leadership called for renewed investment in personnel and equipment.

Reuters

• “The only thing we can say at this stage is that the formation of the two helicopters was not appropriate,” — Faidon Karaiosifidis — Faidon Karaiosifidis, aviation accident investigator.

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