Wildfire Breaks Out Near Thessaloniki, Prompting Evacuations

A fast-moving wildfire broke out Saturday evening near the suburbs of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city. m. and spread quickly to the plains, burning mostly through brush. Residents of the small settlements of Anthoupoli, Filothei and Galini were notified by text to evacuate.

A facility housing 157 people with special needs was also evacuated, with about 120 of those who could walk sheltered in a gym and the rest housed in a psychiatric hospital.

Authorities announced overnight that a 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire. He “appeared not to be sober,” the Hellenic Fire Service said. While residences were spared, several businesses were damaged. Residents of Thessaloniki could see the flames and heard explosions as flammable materials inside businesses burned.

A heavy cloud of smoke blanketed several suburbs and western areas of the city.

115 firefighters along with 38 fire engines and an unknown number of volunteers battled the blaze. Firefighting planes briefly engaged but could not operate after dark. Strong winds made it difficult to contain the fire. There was no indication that the fire was heading toward the city, but firefighters remain on alert and more were expected to join the fight.

Greece, with its long, hot, dry and often windy summers, is no stranger to wildfires. The country managed to get through June without serious damage. The first major wildfire hit Wednesday in central Greece, killing a man and his 12-year-old son, and prompting evacuations.

Additional blazes were burning around Thessaloniki Saturday, including in the Halkidiki Peninsula and the city of Kilkis to the north. Greece has been spared, so far, the extreme heat that engulfed much of the rest of Europe.