Athens burns - Man burns wife, sparks fire

by lisha | August 23, 2009 at 04:05 pm

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Monday, August 24, 2009

ATHENS: Strong winds yesterday fanned a huge wildfire that tore through scores of homes and thousands of acres of forest near Athens, forcing thousands of residents to flee. Thick plumes of smoke hung over the Acropolis as the flames, raging unchecked for a second day, reached the Greek capital's northern suburbs, testing state resources.
"The winds are stronger and change direction all the time, spreading the fire even further," said a fire brigade spokesman. Help from Greece's EU allies started to arrive. Two Italian aircraft joined fire fighting efforts and more are expected from France and Cyprus today.
Twelve aircraft, seven helicopters, 136 fire engines, 644 firemen and 340 soldiers were battling the blaze, officials said. Meanwhile, in west Athens yesterday, a man caused a brush fire when he tried to kill his wife by setting her on fire.
The man "poured a flammable liquid" on his wife, who ran into a clump of bushes and set them on fire. The blaze was rapidly extinguished by the fire department, which has been hard pressed to contain the massive wildfire threatening Athens.
l A wildfire erupted in a game reserve in northwestern Spain. Authorities said the blaze broke out in the Sierra de la Culebra reserve, home to wolves, wild boar and deer, in Zamora province near the Portuguese border.

Source: gulf-daily-news.com

{ It's so sad to watch these people loose their homes and belongings; my heart goes out to them. Global warming is dangerous to our very existence.Wildfires are dangerous to human life and property. Makes you realize sometimes how lucky few people are to live in countries, that has a solid infrastructure around its emergency services. It seems under Greek law if protected forested land burns then it can be built on afterward instead of be reforested.
The type of mentality in Greece, that if someone with money wants something in Greece,they may kill for it, be it developers,or any one with money. Respects and thoughts to those that have lost families and friends. We pray for early winter and rain for you all. Keep strong we are suffering with you. Sometimes, Human beings is the cancer of the planet. Fires, caused in Greece are mostly man made than natural hazards. More than 15,000 people are seriously injured each year from their clothes catching on fire. Flammable liquids were a factor in over half of these injuries. Lighting a cigarette while working with a flammable liquid can cause a fire. A smoldering barbecue fire with lighter fluid being sprayed can flare up and catch clothing and hair on fire. Or sometimes man tries to kill his wife by using flammable liquid and vice-versa, Innocent people die in the bargain.}