Europe’s wildfire crisis eases in west as danger shifts east to Greece

Gale-force winds whipped up the flames of a major wildfire burning out of control in a seaside area on the Greek mainland Saturday, hampering efforts to bring under control the blaze that broke out the previous day and led authorities to evacuate more than 250 people by sea on Friday. Eighteen water-dropping planes and 11 helicopters were assisting 325 firefighters with specialized forest fire teams tackling the blaze in the Boeotia area, the fire department said. Firefighters in France’s Gironde region stayed on high alert Friday, and continued to extinguish flare-ups while residents and volunteers supported emergency crews and families affected by the fire. Volunteers from Greek nongovernmental organization, Dog’s Voice, rushed to save animals from a raging wildfire in Porto Germeno, a popular resort on the Gulf of Corinth. The animals were relocated to a new football stadium in Vilia, West Attica, the group said.

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