| 2012 Chios Forest Fire | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | 18 August 2012 – 28 August 2012[1] |
| Location | Greece:Chios |
| Statistics | |
| Land use | forest, groves ofmastic trees (Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | heat wave, suggestedarson, andwind |
The2012 Chios Forest Fire was awildfire that broke out in the southern half of theGreek island ofChios shortly after 2 a.m. on Saturday 18 August 2012.[2]
The blaze threatened the army base nearVessas.[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 manymastic trees in "Mastichochoria" region had been burned, one of few world sources ofmastic resin, used in food, cosmetics and medicines. Thebeekeepers 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 fromItaly andSpain[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 asCrete, 350 kilometers (230 miles) away.[3]