Once again, fires have erupted in parts of the forests north of Athens, after firefighters had hoped that clouds would bring rain, but instead, lightning struck them.
A team of volunteer firefighters returned to the small Ikali station exhausted but eager to "save their mountain."
The battle appears uneven due to strong winds and rising temperatures on Saturday.
For the past week, deadly fires have been raging across the country, especially at the entrances to Athens and in the northeastern part of Greece, following devastating fires on the island of Rhodes and west of Athens in July.
While fires have subsided in many areas, the danger remains high.
Volunteer firefighter Thanasis Kourtoulos said, "We have to protect Mount Parnitha" and the National Natura 2000 park. Kourtoulos, an expert in computers, appeared disheveled with tired features and a long beard due to lack of time for grooming.
He added, while sipping coffee and smoking rolled cigarettes, "We have been on duty for five consecutive days. I barely had time to go home and take a shower one morning after a night of intervention before rushing back to work."
Similar to Kourtoulos, 62 volunteers (including 13 women), try to balance their professional and family lives as part of a rescue group dedicated to firefighting.
They take turns throughout the year, guarding for periods ranging from four to ten hours at night. Their ages range from 18 to 65, and they are equipped with wireless communication devices.
Five new fires have just broken out nearby.
One of them was spotted by a privately operated drone, which the wealthy village residents paid for. This drone operates day and night during the fire season to ensure surveillance and management.
The firefighting team uses a "handmade" aerial device, with members dressed in worn-out uniforms and equipped with basic flashlights.
The stations themselves are made from containers. The ground floor serves as the command center with saggy couches, while the upper floor houses living quarters for the guards.
Despite everything, volunteers say with joy, "Except for electricity, the small truck, and the gasoline currently provided by the municipality, we pay for everything from our pockets or thanks to donations."
The severe shortage of equipment has sparked controversy, especially during the fires in Rhodes, exacerbated by images of exhausted firefighters sleeping on the ground on a ferry after eleven days of service.
The team leader, Giorgos Dertilis (32 years old), said, "The state does not support us, and everything we receive comes from private initiatives or sponsors."
He added, "It's difficult to find spare parts for the vehicles because they're old," with one of them dating back to 1986.
"We need to secure funds to purchase equipment, and above all, to ensure our safety," he continued.
Often, the volunteers, who were officially recognized in 1991, possess precise knowledge of the terrain on which the Greek firefighting service relies.
François Rithore, a member of the French NGO "Première Urgence Internationale," which came to offer assistance, said that of the 50 vehicles that headed to Farnavas on Saturday morning, "There were only volunteers apart from the management that came from Athens."
A professional firefighter said, "They don't have the same strategies or intervention techniques that we have."
He added, "They go to the mountains, where the terrain is very rugged, with vehicles designed for cities," and large ladders on the roof.
The Frenchman confirmed that "firefighting systems and water reserves were not available" that morning to supply trucks and helicopters. This forced firefighters to pump seawater, but he emphasized that they were "active" in doing so.
Within two and a half hours, the fire was brought under control.
Giorgos Dertilis said, "We're exhausted, but (...) when we see what we've accomplished, we feel satisfaction, and it gives us the courage to continue."
An hour later, volunteers received an order to spread out on the island of Andros, two hours away by boat to the east, where a fire had broken out in the dry grass.
AFP