PYRGOS – Two fire-fighting airplanes and a helicopter took to the skies early on Monday morning to help fight a wildfire that has been raging in Ilia since the previous day. A strong force of 195 fire fighters that includes seven ground teams and 48 vehicles was fighting the flames on the ground, assisted by volunteers, local authority earthmoving machinery and water tanker trucks. The mobile operations centre “Olympos” is also in the area.

The fire started in a stand of forest in the Portes area in Achaia on Sunday afternoon and then spread into the neighbouring regional unit of Ilia.

Fire Brigade chief Lieutenant General Alexis Rapanos had ordered a unit of the Crimes of Arson Directorate to head to go to the area and investigate the cause of the fire.