A rapidly spreading wildfire erupted Saturday evening on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, according to the country’s Fire Service. Residents in three small communities north of the city were ordered to leave their homes as the blaze grew.
The fire started in a ravine in a mountainous area at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time (1730 GMT) before quickly spreading into surrounding plains, burning through brush and vegetation. While no homes have been reported damaged, several businesses caught fire, officials said.
Evacuation orders were issued via text message to residents of the small communities of Anthoupoli, Filothei, and Galini.
A facility housing 157 individuals with special needs was also evacuated. Approximately 120 residents who were able to walk were moved to a nearby gym for shelter, while the remaining individuals were transferred to a psychiatric hospital, local authorities confirmed.
Shortly before midnight, the Fire Service announced that a 76-year-old man had been taken into custody on suspicion of setting the fire. Authorities noted that he “appeared not to be sober” at the time of his arrest.
From within Thessaloniki, residents could see the flames lighting up the sky and heard explosions caused by flammable materials igniting inside nearby businesses. A thick blanket of smoke settled over multiple suburbs and parts of the city’s western sections.
Roughly 115 firefighters and 38 fire engines were deployed to battle the blaze, along with an undisclosed number of volunteers, the Fire Service reported. Firefighting aircraft were briefly used but had to stand down after dark, as they are not equipped to operate at night.
As of late Saturday, there was no indication the fire was moving toward the city center, though crews remained on high alert and additional firefighters were expected to be called in. Gusty local winds continued to hamper containment efforts.
Greece regularly faces the threat of wildfires during its long, hot, dry, and often windy summer season. The country managed to avoid significant damage throughout June, but the first major wildfire of the season struck Wednesday in central Greece, claiming the lives of a father and his 12-year-old son and triggering evacuations in that region. Greece has also largely avoided the extreme heat wave that has gripped much of the rest of Europe.
Other fires were also burning in the Thessaloniki region Saturday, including one on the Halkidiki Peninsula — a popular tourist destination — and another near the city of Kilkis to the north.
