Evthymios Lekkas warns underground fire can burn for weeks in Greek wildfires

Evthymios Lekkas, president of the Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASP) and professor of Dynamic Tectonics at the University of Athens, explained that after a surface fire appears to be extinguished, combustion can continue underground in the root systems of trees. He cited similar behavior in the large fires of Ilia (2007), Parthenon and Chios, noting that underground burning may persist for days, weeks, or even months.

Lekkas said the high temperatures remaining in the soil can sustain hot spots that may reignite under favorable conditions. For this reason fire crews remain on the scene for several days, watering the ground and conducting continuous monitoring. He also described a temperature inversion that created a dense smoke and vapor cloud, limiting visibility and hindering aerial operations. He expects atmospheric conditions to improve later in the day, which could aid further suppression efforts.