ATHENS — Maximum temperatures of 43-45C (109F – 113F) are expected on Wednesday, according to the National Observatory of Athens weather service meteo.gr while the risk for the start and spread of fires remains extremely high until Thursday.

Based on the Canadian Fire Weather Index, high fire risk areas include Attica, Viotia, Fthiotida, Evia, the Peloponnese, Crete, Cyclades islands, Dodecanese islands, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, Lefkada, Kefallonia, Zakynthos, Epirus, Western Greece, Thessaly and areas in Macedonia and Thrace.

Thursday is forecast to be equally high risk for the start of fires and the extended heatwave has greatly increased the flammability of dead plant matter to extremely high levels throughout the country. It noted that any use of fire or equipment that causes sparks was extremely dangerous, appealing to the public to avoid it at all costs for the next few days.