Wildfire sparks evacuations

Greece (AP): A fast-moving wildfire broke out Saturday evening near the suburbs of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city, the country’s fire service said.

Residents of three small suburbs north of the city were told to evacuate. The fire ignited in a ravine in a mountainous area around 8:30 p.m. and spread quickly to the plains, burning mostly through brush, the Hellenic Fire Service said. While residences were spared, several businesses were damaged, the service said. Residents of the small settlements of Anthoupoli, Filothei and Galini were notified by text to evacuate.

Also evacuated was a facility housing 157 people with special needs. About 120 of those who could walk were being sheltered in a gym, while the rest were housed in a psychiatric hospital, the local authorities said. Authorities announced overnight that a 76-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire. He “appeared not to be sober,” the Hellenic Fire Service said.

Residents of Thessaloniki could see the flames and even heard explosions as flammable materials inside businesses burned. A heavy cloud of smoke blanketed several suburbs and western areas of the city. About 115 firefighters along with 38 fire engines and an unknown number of volunteers battled the blaze, the fire service said.