Two firefighters were injured while they were struggling to extinguish a big wildfire in East Mani, South-West Peloponnese. According to local media, one of the firefighter suffered severe burn injuries on the legs, while the other fell and injured his chest on rock.
In a rescue operation with the help of a Shikorski helicopter, the injured were transferred to the hospital in Sparti.
The fire broke out around 2 o’ clock Wednesday noon near the village of Sidirokastro in a forest area which is remote and not easily accessible. The fire is located 150 m down from the church of Agia Kyriaki.
Strong winds are currently blowing with intensity of more than 5 Beaufort, making difficult to get the wildfire under control.
Aerial means like the Two Canadair and two PZL aircraft have been deployed to help the more than 40 firefighter operating in the area.
Locals strongly suspect arson as it is the third time since 2016 that wildfires break out in the same area.
“They want to burn the forests on the mountains of Mani,” reporters from local media said.
- Short before Wednesday midnight, the Fire Service tweeted that the wildfire was partly under control.
A fire that broke on Tuesday night near the village Kelefa by Oitylo was taken under control with firefighters struggling all night. The fire was not very far away from Sidirokastro.
An witness told local media flynews, that he was driving in the area when he saw three fires to break out one after the other and a private car to drive away form the area at high speed.
The witness immediately informed the Fire Service.
In a warning about Very High Risk of Fires (Level 4) due to strong winds on Sept 5th 2018 the Civil Protection listed also the area of Mani.
I see that the arsonists they caught for fires east of Athen,Evia,got only suspended sentences.Why would they stop doing it,there is no deterrent in this country,they literally get away with murder of the environment and people,so whats to be done for the future of Greece with such leniency?