Fire on Hydra

[Metaxia]

Very sad news about Hydra: http://www.hydradirect.com/day_two_fire_on_hydra

[Henning]

This is terrible along with the other current weather turbulances in the South of Europe and England.

Juergen Jaensch called me yesterday telling me that they are all in agony and crying: "Hydra is burning".

[jarkko]

Here is the Day Three report from http://www.hydradirect.com/news_articles_editorial

Day Three - Fire on Hydra
Ayia Matonas: At about 14:00 on 25th July26-Jul-07 - It was with some trepedation that residents of Hydra went outside this morning to see the fate of Ayia Matrona and the upper reaches of the town. Wonderfully the scene had changed from last night's inferno and you would be forgiven for thinking that yesterday was simply a nightmare. At 10am this morning the fires around Hydra Town had gone out. From Kamini looking across the valleys, Agia Matrona can clearly be seen standing and in tact. Some will say it was a miracle, others good luck but personally I would say it was saved due to the brave men of the island and the pilots who spent yesterday soaking the area. But perhaps it was a combination of all three. When you look carefully you can still see smoldering patches but they are manageable, so it appears that the east side of Hydra Town and the central valley is relatively safe now that the fire has swept inland again.

[Henning]

Day 3 reads light as a breeze. I dedicate my morning song to the heroes of Hydra.

[lizzytysh]

Thank you for making us aware of this, Metaxia, and for your updates, Jarkko. I didn't expect to cry this morning, but reading these reports and seeing the photos caused it to happen. What a horrifying sight for the people who live there and those who also do, but happen to be gone and are relying on the reports.

Thank the firefighters and everyone who rallied to get the equipment to where it was needed so they could tirelessly fight the fire demon and save Hydra in the most real of ways. Thank G~d for miracles and good luck, too. It seems to have been a combination to me, too.

This kind of natural disaster has never once crossed my mind as a possibility on Hydra. Mother Nature is terrifying the whole world right now and Hydra was not exempt . Thank heaven no one was injured or killed and the town is okay. The pastures will grow, again.


~ Lizzy


When you speak with Jurgen, again, Henning, please tell him I said Hi. Thanks.

[Metaxia]

Oh, no, don´t cry, Lizzy! Just talked to a friend in Greece, who is in contact, with friends from the island and they´re sure, the fireworkers will get it under controll soon!

[lizzytysh]

At 10am this morning the fires around Hydra Town had gone out. From Kamini looking across the valleys, Agia Matrona can clearly be seen standing and in tact.

Hi Metaxia ~

It's a relief knowing that Agia Matrona is okay. I was under the impression that the crisis aspect was over. Still, I know that smouldering patches can reignite; perhaps, that's what your friend is referring to... or have there been some reignitions since the last report? Or, is it that even the smouldering patches will be doused?

Thanks for your information, Metaxia.


~ Lizzy

[jarkko]

Kelsey has posted an updated Day Three report with photos at http://www.hydradirect.com/day_three_fire_on_hydra

Henry Denander, the Swedish guy whose house Eija and I have rented on Hydra, is there right now and below is his report written only some hours ago. His house is located pretty near Leonard's, some 200 meters from Four Corners to the direction of Kamini.

Elden är uppe i bergen, inte i närheten av hus. Men massor med djur har fått tagits ner från berget, hundratals får och getter nere vid vägen ut mot Vlychos. Igår var det fyra stora plan som fyllde på vatten från havet och
gick i skytteltrafik hela dagen och släppte ner vatten.
Imorse vid 7.00 började två helikoptrar igen. Det var rök och sotflagor överallt.
I natt var himlen alldeles röd av bränderna, månen var rödfärgad.
Det ryktas nu om att det brinner vid Palamida och att elden där bekämpas från
båtar. Från oss ser det bra ut nu, ingen mörk rök över berget.
Lite tungt att andas av röken.
Vinden har friskat i idag, tack och lov var det vindstilla igår när det brann som värst.

There might be some here who don't understand Swedish so here is a summary:

The fires are up on the hills, not near the village itself. A lot of goats and sheep have been brought down from the mountains. Yesterday four big airplanes took water from the see and dropped it down to the fires, for the whole day.
Two helicopters joined the work. There was smoke and soot everywhere. In the night time the heaven was totally red, even the moon was colored. The rumour goes that the fires are now around Palamida and that fire fighters are operating from boats. In the area of Henry's house it looks better now, no smoke seen over the hills. A bit difficult to breathe though. The wind is stronger today - thanks G-d it was calm yesterday when the fires were at worst.

[hydriot]

It's not really the pastures that are the problem, Lizzy. It is those wonderful forests that cover the western half of the island, from the nunnery to Episcopi via Agios Mamas, with their cicadas and smell of pine, where I love to roam alone. Many Greek islands have firebreaks, swathes cut through the forests to contain any fire that begins. Why did affluent Hydra not have this basic precaution?

The fire started at 4pm on Tuesday 24 July in that ghastly rubbish dump above Mandraki, first headed east towards Zourva, then approached the town, and is now apparently heading west along the spine, devouring those wonderful forests. It's difficult to imagine aircraft dropping water will have any meaningful effect. What is needed are men with chain-saws to fell trees ahead of the blaze, as the Australians do. But I can't see the Greeks being organised enough to do that.

I fly out on Tuesday.

[Metaxia]

Hi Lizzy,

I was told, that there are still fires in the mountains, but that the harbor is so far out of danger.

Metaxia

[lizzytysh]

Thanks for the update from Henry Denander, Jarkko. This is obviously a very difficult time for the residents, and smoke and soot always present a respiratory health danger.

Hi Hydriot ~

. . . and is now apparently heading west along the spine, devouring those wonderful forests. It's difficult to imagine aircraft dropping water will have any meaningful effect. What is needed are men with chain-saws to fell trees ahead of the blaze, as the Australians do. But I can't see the Greeks being organised enough to do that.

With the forest lands being devoured, the losses will still be very great. Likewise, the sheep and goats need food. So, it remains dreadful for Hydra. You're right that effective firefighting requires highly organized tactical plans. It is very curious that the preventive measures weren't already in place. Hopefully, this will bring about some changes in that.

Yes, Metaxia, thank G~d the harbour and homes have been spared; yet, as Hydriot has made clear, the forests have also been places for respite for some islanders. I don't know enough about this aspect to say anything specific, but I'm sure the forests serve some ecological purposes for the island, as well. Do some of the trees get used for building there, or is the lumber boated over from Athens? I pray it will be brought totally under control very soon. I know you'll feel better when you can see it for yourself, Hydriot.


~ Lizzy

I love your signature, Metaxia .

[Metaxia]

I love it, too, Lizzy!!

[lizzytysh]

Metaxia. It takes a cat person to settle on a signature like that .


Regarding Hydra with the smoke and soot, I hope that Mrs. Evangelia and her husband are doing okay.



~ Lizzy

[Dem]

Mother Nature might be terrifying the whole world right now
but for this silly fire on Hydra put the blame on Hydrians
and their past and present elected mayors!

It was a crime waiting to happen.

As "hydriot" writes the fire started in that ghastly rubbish dump

Those of you who did the walk from the harbor
to Mandraki Bay might have noticed the smokes
from the rubbish dump burning above.

But the past and present mayors of Hydra the only
thing they know to do well is to fight in courts
about who has won the last election !!!

Ten people are so far dead from the hundred fires
that are burning Greece from side to side these days as you
can see in this satellite photo below, among them the two pilots
of a Canadair CL-415 that crashed while combating a fire
on another island and three firefighters in Crete.



[note:]You can spot Hydra smoking.
On the center of the map, the fire that says “6th day on flames Kozani,Belbentos”
is one that I can see burning from my balcony far away at nights.
One of the most beautiful forests in the region is being destroyed.


Thanks to mayors like those of Hydra and other criminal arsonists!


Dem

[Dem]

addition: I just read this here:
http://www.hydradirect.com/day_three_fire_at_palamitha
"The beautiful bay of Limnioniza was not so lucky.
Reports are that the fire raged right down to the beach
itself and has even turned the umbrellas to cinders."

Arghh!
It's a pity those bastards the mayors weren't turned to cinders as well!

I've recognized the man with the green T-shirt on the second photo.
He works as waiter in a tavern on Vlychos beach. Next time
you visit there say a hello and thank you to him.

Bravo to all who helped fight that silly fire!

Dem