A preventive evacuation of the elderly care unit “Filoxenia”, located on Parnithos Avenue in Menidi, which was tested by the great fire, was carried out by the competent municipal authorities. A senior resident of the nursing home was evacuated to the hospital “Agia Olga”, while 10 other people were transferred to a hospitality hotel.

Meanwhile, in a statement to public broadcaster ERT, Acharnon Deputy Mayor Stathis Topalidis referred to the evacuation of three nursing homes in the wider area, saying that “150 people were bussed to safe places, either to other nursing homes or hospitals”, adding that “they are all safe and in good health”.

He said during the night, with the assistance of the fire brigade, they evacuated the monastery of St. Paraskevi and managed to keep the fire away from the first houses scattered among trees.

The elderly people staying in the three nursing homes were transferred some to a hotel and the rest to other nursing homes.

Regarding the reasons that led the authorities of Acharnon Municipality to take this precautionary action, he said the atmosphere was suffocating and the fire was approaching close to the facilities.

“I don’t know high up on the mountain what has happened in the dense forest. The fire department could not operate there. Towards the area of Ai Yianni of Russon, where the fire hit us in the evening we managed to keep all the houses without burning,” he noted.

Asked about the wind direction and whether it threatens the Parnitha Casino, Topalidis said that for now the fire fronts are far away, but he does not know what will happen if the wind direction changes.