Flames engulf Thessaloniki’s Oreokastro, factory burns and danger grows for residential areas

Residents of a wide area in Oreokastro, on the outskirts of Thessaloniki, are enduring a difficult night as they battle the fire, while dozens of homes have been evacuated.

The fire broke out at around 20:30 on Saturday evening in an agricultural-forest area of Oreokastro, creating an extremely critical situation. Aided by strong winds, the flames spread rapidly, and throughout the night large firefighting forces have been trying to stop their advance toward residential areas.

According to the authorities, the fire is active on two main fronts, while there are also several scattered hotspots threatening homes, businesses and industrial facilities.

This region contains warehouses, workshops and factories, some of which store highly flammable materials. Explosions were heard during the night, while one factory and its associated warehouses were completely burned down. It is also reported that other buildings in the area have suffered partial damage.

The spread of the fire was helped by northerly winds of up to force 6, which were constantly changing direction, creating major difficulties for firefighting crews. Meanwhile, dense clouds of smoke have spread over Thessaloniki.

Firefighters stressed that this is a very dangerous fire because it has broken out very close to Thessaloniki’s urban area. Saturday was a day of very high fire risk in many parts of the country, where more than 60 outbreaks were recorded.

The operation remains ongoing, as the fire has still not been brought under control. More than 120 firefighters, 5 special foot patrol teams, 38 fire engines, water tankers and machinery from the Region of Central Macedonia, as well as many volunteers, are on the ground. Until sunset, a firefighting aircraft also took part, but after nightfall the aerial units were withdrawn.

At 20:52, the authorities sent an emergency alert through the 112 number, urging residents of Anthoupoli to leave immediately. One of the most difficult moments of the night was also the decision to evacuate 157 people who were at the “Saint Panteleimon” Chronic Diseases Institution in Derveni, near the Egnatia motorway, opposite the “Titan” factory.

Later, the flames were moving south, toward Evkarpia, another large neighborhood in western Thessaloniki. The mayor of the neighboring Pavlou Melas municipality, Dimitris Aslanidis, also described the situation as dramatic.

The Arson Crimes Investigative Unit also arrived at the scene immediately. As part of the investigation, a 76-year-old Greek man has been taken in for questioning.