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Raging Wildfires Force Greeks to Flee

Bracing for worsening conditions, officials struggle to tame blazes

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 22, 2009 5:34 PM CDT

(Newser) – Dozens of wildfires are raging across Greece today, forcing villagers to flee and threatening to scorch ancient landmarks, the BBC reports. Fanned by gale-force winds, the flames are also creeping up on the nation's capital, where one suburb has already received evacuation orders, the AP reports. "The coming night will be especially difficult," a fire brigade spokesman said.

While scores of people have fled on foot, motorbikes, and by car, many residents are refusing to leave their homes. Priests armed with hoses have joined some homeowners in the uphill battle. No casualties are reported so far, but 75 more blazes cropped up today, making this the worst rash of fires to hit Greece since 2007, when wildfires took 70 lives.

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A man flees during a forest fire near the town of Magoula, some 20 miles northwest of Athens, Greece, on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A firefighter throws a pail of water over burning rubbish in an illegal dump during a forest fire near near Athens, Greece, on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

A plane drops water on a forest fire near Kalamos, north of Athens on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

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This is a difficult fire because it is a mixed area with homes and forest, meaning that firefighters are focusing their attention on protecting lives and properties. - Yiannis Kapakis,
fire department spokesman

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Raging Wildfires Force Greeks to Flee