Fire zone being built outside Psahna to protect town from still-blazing Evia fire

A barrier will be built outside the town of Psahna in central Evia, where a fire that broke out early on Tuesday morning in an area of dense pine forest and still blazed out of control by Tuesday evening, fanned by strong winds.
The decision to build a fire barrier was made by Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos with Citizen Protection Secretary General Nikos Hardalias, and regional and local officials, along with Fire Brigade leaders.
A total of 18 earth-moving machines, water trucks and heavy machines from regional authorities and private Larco’s plant will arrive in the central-west town of Psahna, southwest of the fire to prepare the barrier.
Although the high-velocity winds have subsided, dense smoke hampered the use of water-dousing aircraft.
According to Dirfyes-Messapies Mayor Giorgos Psathas, there are two fire fronts, facing Platania and Psahna, the latter of which he called "very difficult, and this is where we will open fire zones, which earth-moving machinery has begun to create."
Facing Platania, the fire front between Kastaniotissa, Galatsades and Kamatriades was intense when it broke out, water-dropping airplanes contained the fire somewhat. Because it burns in dense pine forest which is inaccessible by land, it is very difficult to contain it.
In all, the residents of four villages were evacuated to Psahna during the day: Makrymalli, Kondodespoti, Stavros and Platania. According to reports, damages have occurred in Makrymalli, where houses burned down. 
The area that includes the four villages near Psahna has been declared under national emergency, while Greece also requested and is expecting to receive help by other EU member-states volunteering firefighting planes. Croatia and Italy have sent four aircraft expected to arrive on Wednesday morning. European Commissioner for Humanitarian Help and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said, "We are mobilizing the rescEU assets to respond to Greece activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism. The EU stands by Greece at this difficult time."
The blaze is being fought by 227 firefighters  with 75 fire engines, 7 units on foot, and 6 aircraft and 6 helicopters, joined by a coordinating mobile unit. In addition, forces include two units of the army, volunteers, eight machines and ten water-dispensing vehicles.
In Athens, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis and Fire Brigade chief Vassilis Mattheopoulos are at the Fire Brigade's coordination center in Halandri, along with the national defense minister and leaders.

See also:

PM Mitsotakis at Fire Brigade's ops center: Protecting human lives first and foremost

EU activates RescEU mechanism; Commissioner Stylianides: We stand by Greece

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