The Fire Service went on alert early Wednesday afternoon, when a wildfire broke out in Glyka Nera very close to Attiki Odos in north-eastern Attica in a dense forest.Authorities investigate whether the fire was caused by a drone that crashed on the ground. Four detentions.
Residents of Athens saw black smoke emerging from the back of Hymettus mountain early Wednesday afternoon.
Alert 🚨
Now as seen from vrilissia on side of ymittos#Athebs#wildfire#Greece pic.twitter.com/4lN53zwEC9— Christina Themelis (@tinathemelis) July 3, 2024
Η φωτιά στον Υμηττό πριν λιγο #φωτια pic.twitter.com/A98TklQiOp
— Stavros (@Stavros13104628) July 3, 2024
Prompt was the mobilization of the Fire Service that deployed 100 firefighters and , 6 units on foot, 25 vehicles, 9 water dropping aircraft and 7 helicopters.
At the same time, the Civil Protection warned locals with emergency messages via the line <112>, while police ordered traffic regulations and diversions.
Firefighters and water-dropping aerial means managed to largely contain the wildfire within two hours. It was of great help that there were moderate winds blowing in the area at the time the fire broke out.
Fire caused by a drone?
It was first of all the mayor of Glyka Nera who reportedly claimed that the fire was caused by a drone that crashed on the ground.
Η φωτιά στον Υμηττό, στην περιοχή των Γλυκών Νερών, φαίνεται ότι ξεκίνησε από την πτώση αυτού του drone. #φωτια #Γλυκα_Νερα #Υμηττος pic.twitter.com/RCEki2GR9H
— idiotypos 🍉 (@idiotypos) July 3, 2024
According to media information, authorities are strongly considering the scenario that a group of four people were operating a drone which – for an as yet unknown reason – fell into a wooded area resulting in a fire.
In fact, when police arrived at the scene, they spotted these four people who were quickly leaving the area.
Τhe police officers stopped them, checked them out, detained them and brought them to the police station of Paiania.
According to ethnos.gr, one of the detained is a drone operator and it is assumed that the fire broke out due to its fall, while all four work for a company that manufactures and flies drones.
Company employees who were near the scene of the fire noted that they saw a spark.
if a spark from the drone started the fire, then the drone should have been burnt, but your picture showsn no sign of fire damage on or around the crashed drone
thought that too initially but that’s the official position.yet it is thought to be a spark from the drone not a drone on fire.