Wildfires

Wildfires - Greece

A wildfire has broken out and burned an area covered with pine trees on the Sithonia peninsula in northern Greece on Thursday, with strong winds hindering the efforts of the firefighters. The region of central Macedonia has now called a state of emergency for the village of Sarti. Police blocked off roads in the area as firefighters continued to battle with the blaze with the support of helicopters.

Wildfires - Australia

A bushfire that started October 11 in Western Australia 120km southeast of Broome burned 880,000 hectares, or 2,174,527 acres. Dry winds from variable directions and high temperatures made it very difficult to suppress. The remote location and a lack of water restricted the tactics to fighting fire with fire, constructing firelines with heavy equipment, and using aircraft.

When the wind direction changed last week, firefighters had to shut down the Great Northern Highway, National Route 1. In spite of the enormous size of the blaze in Western Australia there were no fatalities or damage to major structures.