Massive Wildfire Nears Athens

ATHENS, Greece — A massive wildfire ripped through the suburbs just north of Athens Sunday, devastating homes and causing thousands to evacuate overnight.

These fires raged through day three scorching thousands of acres of land covered by pine forest or thick bushes. Missiles located on a nearby base were removed as flames approached, the army said.

"The situation is tragic. Fires are out of control on many fronts," greater Athens local governor Yiannis Sgouros said.

This being the worst destruction seen at this location since the massive fires in southern Greece in 2007 that killed more than 70 people, a state of emergency has been declared in great Athens.

Once daybreak struck helicopters and planes continued water drops after a pause overnight allowing the fires to spread reaching the suburbs. Black clouds filled the air blocking out most of the sun.

Two large children hospitals, camp sites, and homes in villages were evacuated by authorities and outlying suburban areas were threatened by the fast moving flames which scattered ash on streets across the city.

Deputy Fire Chief Stelios Stefanidis said no casualties had been reported by early Sunday, despite the overnight evacuations of hundreds of hillside homes on the outskirts of the city.

The fires, which started late Friday, were reported in an area more than 25 miles wide.

30 mph winds were forecasted fore Sunday which would cause the fire to spread more quickly. Water drops are becoming harder and harder do to the thickening smoke preventing officials from putting an end to this fire before the strong winds arrive.

Many residents ignored evacuation orders and took fighting the blaze into their own hands wielding nothing more than garden hoses and tree branches. Volunteers from across the region joined the fight with the firefighters to fend off the flames.

"We urge everyone to comply with the instructions of those responsible," Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said. "A massive effort by authorities is taking place to deal with this very difficult challenge."

Municipal officials in that area said the fire was threatening the archaeological site of Rhamnus, home to two 2,500-year-old temples.