Firefighters were battling late on Monday with two major fires in Kineta and Kallitechnoupolis, in the Penteli area, prompting regional Governor of Attica, Rena Dourou, to call a state of emergency for eastern and western Attica.

The fire in Kineta, that started on the Geraneia mountain range, has spread to houses with a number being damaged. Three housing communities were vacated with more than 100 firefighters fighting the blaze, along with 47 vehicles.

The second major fire front was in Kallitechnoupolis, where authorities evacuated summer residencies provided by the airforce and the army in Zoumperi and Aghios Andreas, along with children's camps in the area. The evacuation is being held for precautionary reasons, authorities said.

Late in the afternoon, the blaze was spreading, damaging homes and threatening more. There were  50 firefighters in the area with 20 vehicles, 20 volunteers, three airplanes and two helicopters.

Speaking from Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras raised concerns about the three fire fronts which broke out.

"Before I start, I would like to refer to a large difficulty that we are facing in Greece and is in relation to the three parallel fire fronts in Attica, a very difficult situation in Attica. I am in open communication with the ministers. All of the on land and air forces are being deployed. I would like to believe that despite the difficult conditions we will manage to do what is possible to get it under control. I am concerned about the three fronts, parallel fires. My thoughts are there," he said.

Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas told Athens Macedonian News Agency that "all government and state forces are on full standby, so that we don't mourn victims and limit as much as possible the damages from this exceptionally difficult fire in Kineta." 

Speaking from the fire brigade's operational center, the minister hinted that the large fire, on the Geraneia mountain range, could be the result of arson and that this will be investigated by authorities.

"These fires are not that innocent," highlighted Toskas, adding that "last night, again on Geraneia, in the same areas where the fire broke out today, we had another two fires that were quickly brought under control. This afternoon, and while the fire in Kineta had spread, another fire broke out above the refinery in Aspropirgos. This was handled quickly, but all of this can't not make you think."
In regards to how the fire has been handled, Toskas said the fire brigade was informed of the blaze at 12:03 and there was an immediate response from fire fighters, the armed forces, regional and municipal authorities that helped support firefighters.

Greek authorities earlier closed the Athens-Corinth national highway and the old Athens-Corinth national road in both directions as a precaution, from the 39th until the 57th kilometre, due to the major fire raging on the Geraneia mountain range near Kineta, Attica.

Power cuts were reported in the broader region affected by the wildfire, which has caused severe damage to the power lines in the area. Police have also ordered the suspension of Proastiakos train services in the region.
Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator S.A. technicians are currently unable to access the points in the network that have sustained damage or been destroyed while the operator is also cutting power to regions at the orders of the fire brigade, for reasons of safety.

The company said that an assessment and repair of the damage will be carried out once the fire is under control and authorities allow access to the area.
"Citizens are urged to faithfully follow the instructions of the authorities for their own safety. The fire brigade's forces are waging a hard fight in Kineta, in order to contain the fire, under difficult conditions since they must face strong winds," fire brigade press spokesperson Stavroula Malliri told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA).
She said that further reinforcements, including 17 fire engines, were being sent to the front from various regions in Attica.

In earlier statements to the ANA, Secretary General for Civil Protection Yiannis Kapakis said the fire in Kineta shared many features with the massively destructive fires of 2007, though with slightly lower temperatures. Authorities have also evacuated three villages in the area as a precaution.

"This fire is one of the worst scenarios, which we had hoped not to face this year," he said. "It is one of the most difficult fires where strong winds combine with dense flammable material to aid its rapid development. Huge efforts are being made to contain the repercussions but the katabatic winds spread the flames and are hampering the work of fire men."
Kapakis said the fire was known to be burning within the Panorama settlement but did not know whether it had damaged homes in its path.
The wildfire broke out on Monday afternoon in a forest of pines in the Geraneia Mountains near Kineta, Attica. A fire fighting operation is underway in the air and on the ground, with dozens fire men and fire engines striving to contain the flames, assisted by teams on foot, water-bombing aircraft and helicopters. Thick smoke rising up from the fire is visible from many areas in Attica and presents an additional challenge for the aircraft battling the blaze.