Athens, Greece— The fire started in dry brush just outside town and hit houses within twenty minutes on October 29. Winds gusted to 70 km/h. Flames jumped roads. Tiles cracked. By early afternoon, an entire hillside neighborhood was burning.
Residents had little warning. The 112 emergency alert buzzed phones at 11:42 a.m., ordering evacuation of three settlements. Some left immediately. Others stayed to hose roofs. A local official said, "The wind turned. It went from field fire to house fire in seconds. We told people to leave, not fight."
At least a dozen homes were destroyed, according to initial counts. More were damaged. Cars melted where they were parked. Power poles fell, cutting electricity. Two elderly residents were treated for smoke inhalation after refusing to leave until firefighters physically carried them out.
Fire service deployed 85 firefighters, 12 engines, and four water bombers. The planes could not fly low at first due to smoke. Ground crews worked house to house, cutting firebreaks with chainsaws. Volunteers brought water. One firefighter said, "We save what we can. The wind decides the rest."
The injured were taken to a regional hospital. Three with burns, two with respiratory issues. None listed as life-threatening by evening, but doctors kept them under observation. A child was treated for panic.
Roads in and out were closed. Police blocked the main coastal road as flames crossed it. Drivers abandoned vehicles and ran. The smoke plume was visible 30 kilometers away. Ash fell on neighboring towns.
This is late for wildfire season, but not unusual anymore. Greece has extended its fire risk period into November after hotter, drier summers. Vegetation around homes had not been cleared in some plots, a perennial problem authorities cite every year.
By nightfall, the front had slowed. Ground teams remained. Spot fires kept reigniting in gardens. Drones with thermal cameras flew to find hot spots. The mayor said damage assessment would start at first light.
Evacuees spent the night in a school gymnasium, waiting to learn if their houses still stood.
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