Image: Express
Many of you have contacted me to ask about the recent fires. As you may have heard, we had two big forest fires raging not 30-40 minutes from our house. One from the North (Kalamos) and one from the East (Mati-Rafina). Different ones, too.
I spent most of that evening talking to friends, making sure they were OK. We also had cousins and aunts who had to evacuate because of a third fire, this one away from us.
I only slept a little that night, with one eye glued to the phone in case the wind turned and brought the fire to us. Woke up tired and with a headache. They said it would rain yesterday afternoon, not a moment too soon, but so far it’s been one sunny day after another. Maybe today. We’ll see.
Thank God, both we and everyone we know is safe, but it looks like at least one of our friends has lost her home and cars. It was shocking; everything happened so fast. At 5 pm, the fire started. By 8 pm, houses had been burned. An hour later, we heard of the first fatalities. By yesterday morning, it was over 50 dead. By midday, the fire had died out but the death toll is still rising—74 this morning.
I grew up with fires, as we live in a forested area of Athens. A fire burned down part of our garden in 2009 and fires have burned down parts of my parents’ garden on three different occasions. So, I know how to deal with them. You basically lock up, close up every single door and window, and get the hell out. Also, no trees touching the house. And every year, we clear the garden and roof from pine needles and dead branches.
Which is part of the reason why our house has never suffered any real damage. But I’ve never witnessed such a terrible loss of life so close to Athens. I’m still shocked by it all.
If anyone wants to help, the Rafina Municipality has opened a bank account to support the victims:
Bank of Piraeus
Account number: 5186092291418
ΙΒΑΝ: GR20 0172 1860 0051 8609 2291 418
Thank you all for your questions and support!
Fire is so terrible in its swiftness and its destruction. I am happy to hear you and your family are all okay and I pray for those who lost their homes and loved ones.
Thank you so much, Michelle 🙂
Thinking of you. The video footage I’ve seen is just apocalyptic. Glad your friends and you are OK. Take care and stay safe.
Thank you so much, Mary 🙂
My deepest condolences for the people of Greece Nicholas. Seems much too often we hear of tragedies, Sending light and healing to your country. Thank goodness you and your family and home is safe. Godspeed! 🙂
Thank you so much, Debby 🙂
<3
I was watching the news regarding this horrific tragedy, which they now saw was arson. I’m thankful you and many others are safe. My heart goes out to the family friends and the losses they have endured and must now deal with.
Thank you so much.
You are welcome indeed.
I am sorry to hear you know people who lost their homes. Since Monday I’ve been praying hard, I feel so helpless. I am also freaked out, because on Monday when all the fires broke out (the closest to us was 20 minutes in the car in Kineta) the wind was freakishly strong and I thought it was going to break the trees in the garden. In a plot of land not 100 metres from our home a fire broke out and it was on the side that would have come straight into our street if no one had seen it. The fire brigade came and put it out and they cut down our electricity supply while they tried – as a precaution. They found olive trees burning furiously from the inside as if whatever started the fire was inside the trees… In Kineta, people said they kept hearing explosions in the forest, one after another. Clearly, arson was the case in all the forest fires last Monday, like it always is when fires break out all over the place and in the same region on days where the wind is so strong. The authorities said they found 40 different places where the fire started that day in Attica. That can’t be coincidence. It’s an organized plan to burn us alive. Sadly, they succeeded…
40 different places?! Strewth…
So glad you, your family and extended family are ok – I was gobsmacked at how bad the fires and loss of life have been. Last night on the news we heard that there had been more than twenty people, holding each other as they were overcome by smoke inhalation and the fire. So tragic – such events are always so difficult to get through. God bless and you and yours will be in my prayers.
Thank you, Catherine. That was a particularly harrowing story: They found 24 people huddled together. They were trapped in their cars so they ran toward the sea. Ending up at a cliff, they turned around to return to their cars. The fire caught up with them in an empty plot of land, where they all died.
I am so glad that you and your family are well and speechless about the loss of so many lives. Take good care of yourself!
Thank you so much, Vera! Same here.
Terrifying. I saw some of the damage on the news last night and was horrified. A man spoke of how they took cover in the ocean and even then people died around him through drowning.
When Mother Nature unleashes her fury all we can do is pray.
Sending Greece love and prayers {{hugs}}
Thank you so much, Jacquie. Human idiocy played a big part in this particular tragedy. For example, a lot of cars were blocked because no one thought to stop the nearby port of Rafina from taking in more ships. These unloaded their passengers, thus blocking the streets all the way to where people were trying to escape the flames.
Oh no! Hopefully the authorities learn from this and can take better/safer measures in the future.
I hope so. It’s ridiculous that no one has even resigned.
I’m so sorry to hear this, but I’m glad you and yours are safe today. Take care.
Thank you 🙂
I’m glad you and your family are doing all right, Nicholas. My sister and her family were visiting Athens a few weeks ago, and the islands of Paros and Santorini. The fires happened after they left. We have cousins and our aunt that live in the Athens area, but have gotten word from them so far that they are all right. Take care, Nicholas!
Thank you 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
Thanks for letting us know you are safe. Our hearts go out to those poor people killed, and the coastal community destroyed by this fire. The news here is saying it is arson. Somehow, that makes it seem even sadder.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thank you, Pete. On that same day, they caught in the Peloponnese a 51-year-old who was trying to set off two more fires. I haven’t read why he did it, just that they released him pending trial. I thought that was preposterous, especially given everything that was happening in Athens.
They should throw the book at such people, Nicholas. That’s scandalous.
My feelings exactly. What the hell was that prosecutor thinking?
The fires near Athens has been in our news, Nicholas. I hope you and your family continue to keep safe. You are in our prayers.
Leslie
Thank you so much, Leslie 🙂
Do keep safe..
My thoughts are with you, may you and yours remain safe and out of harm’s way.
Thank you, Elle 🙂
I’ve been thinking about you! I didn’t know you lived in the area of the fire, so I’m glad you’re OK. We have had lots of fires in the western USA in recent years, including near Colorado Springs, where I live. But they are mostly in the urban-wildland interface. Everybody wants to live in the forest these days.
Thank you! There’s something to be said for life away from the city, but there’s also a price to pay.
Thank you for keeping us updated, Nicholas. It’s so heartbreaking to even imagine what you are going thru. Keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much, Mar! We’re the lucky ones. Others, not so much…
Glad you and everyone you know are safe. Sending prayers to all that were affected by the fires…
Thank you so much, Pamela 🙂
Blimey Nick sounds bloody awful. Wishing everyone all the best and hope you guys remain safe and secure
It really was, although we were lucky. Many thanks!
That is good news that your friends, family and you are safe.
Thank you, Chuck 🙂
Very glad to hear that you and your family are OK….however, it must be a terrible concern as the heat continues. Janet
Thanks! You’re right, every summer it’s the same worry. We’re kinda grateful for September.
Stay well and stay safe.
In cases such as these, “like” implies the post has been read, and its truth acknowledged.
And the Like is much appreciated 🙂
I’m so sorry that you’re going through such a frightening and tragic time, Nicholas, and my heart goes out to those who are suffering. We too are plagued by fires in Oregon, but fortunately have avoided the worst. Closing up and getting out is great advice. 🙁 Be safe.
Thank you, D 🙂
i’m glad that your friends are safe and sorry for those who aren’t
Thank you 🙂
I don’t know that I ‘like” this because it is such a tragedy – so similar to what happens so frequently in California – but I’m glad your friends are safe. Possessions can be replaced, life cannot.
Well said–and thank you 🙂