site.btaWildfire in Mount Parnitha Brought Under Control by Greek Authorities

Greek authorities have brought a forest fire under control in Mount Parnitha, located north of the capital Athens, Kathimerini’s online edition said.

Some 100 people, firefighters and volunteers, took part in extinguishing the flames, along with 22 fire engines and firefighting aircraft, the report said.

The fire broke out earlier on Thursday on the mountain’s southern slope but has now been contained. There are no reports of injuries or threats to residential areas. The causes of the incident are still under investigation, the outlet added.

Kathimerini said that Mount Parnitha, once covered by dense forest until a few decades ago, has been severely affected by a series of consecutive summer wildfires that have already destroyed vast areas of woodland and vegetation.

Local media also recalled that Greece has introduced mandatory nationwide measures requiring property owners to clear dry vegetation as part of fire prevention efforts, with penalties for non-compliance. At the local level, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has urged residents to clean their plots and maintain them throughout the fire-risk season to reduce the likelihood of fires starting and spreading.

In 2026, the country will be able to deploy 164 new fire engines worth EUR 15.5 million, according to the online edition of the Greek newspaper Proto Thema. These include specialized tanker trucks with capacities of up to 12,000 litres, as well as high-mobility vehicles designed for use in difficult terrain.