Firefighters resume efforts to douse blaze on Evia
A large firefighting force on Friday morning resumed efforts to douse a large blaze that broke out on the island of Evia on Thursday.
Efforts continued through the night to put out three fire fronts – in Kymi, Pyrgri and Aghios Georgios – while waterdropping aircraft joined the operation at first light on Friday morning.
Although the fires were not threatening residential areas, the fire service ordered the evacuation of four settlements – Gavalas, Dafni, Neohori and Lofiskos as a preventive measures.
Outgoing regional governor Kostas Bakoyannis and his deputy Fanis Spanos visited Gavalas.
The blaze started shortly after lunchtime on Thursday in Manikia, a stretch of brush and farmland.
A 64-year-old man who was arrested in Manikia on Thursday on suspicion of starting the fire through negligence, was to face a prosecutor in Halkida on Friday.
