Athens.- AMNA

Major fires that started within half an hour of each other continued to threaten sparsely inhabited areas in the Attica region of Keratea on Saturday evening, with another major fire was reported in Aliveri, on the island of Evia. Based on the latest fire brigade update, the flames had passed through gardens and yards in Lakiza but no damage had been reported.

Authorities said that there were originally three separate fronts, in the areas of Sakka, Lakiza and Protifis Ilias, but the last was quickly put out.

The fire in Lakiza, which had started in an area wooded by pines, was still burning out of control late on Saturday evening.

A major fire-fighting force of 100 firemen, 40 fire engines, a 20-man team on foot, six municipal vehicles, two water-bombing aircraft and two helicopters had been deployed to put out the flames.

The fire in Aliveri began at around 11:40 in the morning in a gorge with low vegetation, mostly dry grass. It had gone out but rekindled on Saturday afternoon due to strong winds blowing in the area, without posing a threat to homes. A force of 40 firemen, 15 fire engines, a 14-man team on foot, three municipal vehicles, two aircraft and one helicopter have been sent to put it out.

Meanwhile, authorities on Saturday reported the arrest of a 39-year-old for two cases of intentional arson in Karea, Attica. The suspect was arrested on Friday by the fire brigade’s arson department and confessed to setting two fires in a wooded area of Karea, one of July 6 and one on Friday, that were immediately put out by the fire brigade.

He told investigators that he set the fires because he liked to see the fire engines and airplanes rushing to respond.