Athens - Dozens of firefighting planes and helicopters battled to contain a forest fire that was burning out of control on Tuesday near Athens as strong winds pushed the blaze towards an ammunitions factory, reports said. More than 11 planes, three helicopters, 50 trucks and 280 firefighters fought to contain the fire near the village of Inoi, which is located in the Parnitha mountains, approximately 40 kilometres north-west of the capital Athens.
The blaze had already scorched two homes near the towns of Panacton and officials said rescue crews were busy dousing the area with water.
The forest fire is the latest of dozens of fires that have hit the country so far this summer as temperatures continue to soar to record levels.
The country had to battle hundreds of massive forest fires that broke out in several areas across Greece last summer, killing a total of 84 people, including several firefighters.
The most destructive and lethal of the infernos broke out at the end of August in the western and southern Peloponnese as well as the southern island of Evia, killing a total of 84 people.
