FIRE

 

August Fires in Greece Image Courtesy NASA

The ongoing forest fires in Greece which have caused over 60 deaths have perplexed even the locals who are inured to the regular summer outbreaks which are fanned by their strong gusty North Easterly winds they call the Meltemia.This year the spontaneous nature of the outbreaks have led to arsonist theories, as uncontrollable fire after fire have swept the Peloponnesian peninsular and the northern island of Evia. Arson may be part of the answer but more likely is that the ancient land has been experiencing ever warmer summers. In the seventies and eighties temperatures in the mid thirties were to be expected. But, as Romania and other eastern European countries experienced this summer, the gauge now tops 40 degrees Celsius for protracted periods. It takes very little to ignite a fire in such hot dry conditions. Simple magnification of the sun's rays through pieces of broken glass can be enough. We have to prepare ourselves for more of the same.