Athens continues to burn. Two men arrested on suspicion of accidentally starting a wildfire

Its not been a good summer for Greece.

Via Zerohedge…

Greece is burning, literally, as Athens residents fled their homes on Friday amid wildfires fanned by strong winds and high temperatures burned through woodland around the Greek capital, sending clouds of smoke billowing over the city. Greek PM Tsipras urged calm as more than 80 firefighters with 18 fire engines and three aircraft battled the flames… brings a whole new meaning to the term ‘firesale’…

It appears that far from accidental, there may be an arson element behind these events. According to Greek ERT1 TV, “66 wildfires broke out simultaneously”, which is highly improbable without human intervention, begging the question: is someone employing “scorched earth” tactics with Germany’s latest vassal state?

via #ERT1 TV – 66 wildfires broke out simultaneously. #Greece

— Andrew McC Crawford (@andymccc) July 17, 2015

Dozens flee homes as wildfires rage near Athens http://t.co/PX9K1wMfkE pic.twitter.com/jfzVz4IxZ4 — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 17, 2015

Ελλαδα μου ? ♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️♨️😱😔😔😢😢😞😞😞 #Greece #fire_in_greece #Athens pic.twitter.com/cafIE3jABe

— Παιδί περίπτωση (@RafTsouf) July 17, 2015

#Wildfires in #Greece now. pic.twitter.com/qkD7zAHDbe — Dimitris (@hoplabourer) July 17, 2015

Insult to injury: Photos of wildfire in outskirts of #Athens http://t.co/51qdcJ20vw #Greece pic.twitter.com/747BE1nQkk” pic.twitter.com/GC9cdLy1mv

— Dimitri Androutsos (@EngProfD) July 17, 2015

Via Ekathimerini…

Police in Athens have arrested two men, a Greek and a Bulgarian, on suspicion of accidentally starting a wildfire that ravaged the capital’s northeastern outskirts, the fire department said on Saturday.

The two men, aged 67 and 58, will be taken before a prosecutor on charges of accidentally starting the blaze.

The fire that broke out on Friday in the northeastern Athens district of Kareas, at the foot of Mount Hymettus, quickly spread across several kilometres and threatened homes in another three districts before it was brought under control.

Another fire in the southeast of the Peloponnese peninsula, near the coastal town of Neapoli, burned down several homes and devastated agricultural land.

Overall, nearly 80 fires broke out in Greece on Friday, the fire department said, prompting the government to request aid from Europe.

France’s interior ministry said it was sending two water-bombing Canadair planes and a reconnaissance aircraft following the appeal.

A new fire broke out Saturday on the island of Skyros.

Authorities have warned that the risk of fire outbreaks remains high owing to strong winds.

References:

http://www.ekathimerini.com/199698/article/ekathimerini/news/two-arrested-over-athens-wildfire

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-07-17/greece-burning-literally