| 2012 Chios Forest Fire | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | 18 August 2012 – 28 August 2012 [1] |
| Location | Greece: Chios |
| Statistics | |
| Land use | forest, groves of mastic trees ( Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | heat wave, suggested arson, and wind |
The 2012 Chios Forest Fire was a wildfire that broke out in the southern half of the Greek island of Chios shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday 18 August 2012. [2]
The blaze threatened the army base near Vessas. [3] By the evening of 20 August it was reported that a total of nine villages had been evacuated as the fire continued to advance. [4]
By Monday 20 August local authorities reported that 7000 hectares (16,000 acres) of forest and farmland had been destroyed. [4] Official reports on 20 August added that many mastic trees in " Mastichochoria" region had been burned, one of few world sources of mastic resin, used in food, cosmetics and medicines. The beekeepers of Chios had lost 60 percent of their hives. [2]
About 360 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers were trying to control and extinguish the fires with the use of water-bombing planes and helicopters as well as 50 vehicles. [2] The Greek government had asked for the help of aircraft from Italy and Spain [4] to help not only with this but six other forest fires that broke out elsewhere in Greece on 19 August and five more on 20 August. [2]
Already on 18 August smoke from the fire was visible as far south as Crete, 350 kilometers (230 miles) away. [3]
See also
References
- ^ "Oikologikos apologismos pyrkagias chiou" (PDF) (in Greek). WWF. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d " Major fire on eastern Greek island of Chios" at boston.com (20 August 2012)
- ^ a b " Forest / Wild Fire in Greece on Saturday, 18 August, 2012 Archived 2 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine" at RSOE EDIS
- ^ a b c " Wildfire sweeps across Greek island of Chios" at bbc.co.uk (20 August 2012)