FIRES | Kefalonia is still largely an undeveloped, rural island pleasantly endowed with vegetation including the native Kefalonia Fir Tree (Abies cephalonica). The long, hot and dry summers leave the flora tinder-dry. Bush fires are not uncommon. Mostly they are contained and remain relatively small but big fires do occur, sometimes with deadly consequences. During the summer of 2007 fires raged throughout many parts of Greece, resulting in the death of at least 65 people. |
"Everyone knows" who starts the fires, it's: tourists /
foreigners / secret agents / property developers / shepherds. It just
depends on the current whim of the rumour mill. And, on odd occasion, it might be true. However, contrary to popular belief, not all Greeks are nice, jolly, stable people:
some are pyromaniacs who find fire-starting fun and some are
arsonists seeking to profit from the devastation and death. Where
prosecutions have proved possible, very often fires have started
through negligence: a ya-ya (granny) letting the cooking pot burn dry,
some
guy accidentally setting the shack alight while welding. However started, fires can be devasting, if not deadly. On 27 August, 2009, Colonel Stergios Kotoulas was killed when his 'plane crashed while fighting a fire in Katelios. In 2007 a fire ripped through south-east Kefalonia. Although no-one was seriously injured at least four homes were totally destroyed, along with crops and livestock, i.e. peoples’ livelihoods. |
The fire started outside Poros, in a valley on the slopes between the villages of Tzanata and Kapandriti, on the evening of 24 July, 2007. | |
During the night the cracking of burning trees could be plainly heard as the fire spread west towards Agia Eirini | |
Fanned by the wind the fire spread across the Poros - Argostoli road and raced up towards Kornelo and Agios Yeorgios | |
Well beyond the control of the local fire fighters, at daybreak the fight was fought from the air, helicopters picking up water from the reservoir at Tzanata | |
Racing past Agios Yeorgos, Pastra and Kremmydi the fire threatened to surround Markopoulo | |
as it spread down the valley towards Katelios | |
Covering the village in dense smoke, as though a dark cloud had descended | |
The fire spread down to Ano Katelios | |
Threatening to confront the firefighters on the beach | |
As the day wore on the firefighters contained the threat in Katelios and let the fire burn itself out | |
As night fell on Katelios the fire continued to burn towards Ratzakli and Skala | |
Day break again saw fire planes tackling the blaze - with great success | |
The fire was contained and almost expired | |
Time to assess the extent of damage | |
and discover the fire had revealed patterns normally obscured by vegetation | |
Firefighters could take a well earned break | |
as media crews recorded the aftermath. | |
Markopoulo: house on the hill above Katelios | |
Next to the Panatzatos cheese shop, Pastra | |
Crystal Palace, Skala | |
Street light outside Aeolos, Skala | |
Telephone poles didn't escape | |
This one at Astoupades | |
still smoldering mid morning | |
Mains power suffered outages and candles couldn't cope with the excess heat | |
The view from Agios Yeorgios towards Agia Eirini and Tzanata | |
The sign says enough |
You are here... wherever that is |
But at least you're still here | |
Whereas out in the hills near Kornelo | |
The old olive press | |
near Asprogerakas | |
Old, abandoned, homes in Asprogerakas | |
finally fell | |
Remains of someone's home at Kornello | |
evacuated before the fire destroyed it |
All photos copyright of Maik @ GGi |