Wildfires Rage Across Greece

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 24, 2009 — -- Greek fire crews worked through the night to beat back wildfires that ringed the country's capital of Athens, with some of the fires just a few miles from the heart of the city.

Stronger winds are expected later today, which could strengthen the conflagration.

As winds receded briefly, 17 water-dropping planes and helicopters resumed operations today, swooping over flames near populated areas.

Typical of the ongoing battle with the rampaging fires was a scene witnessed by ABC News this morning in Pikermi on the outskirts of Athens where flames consumed half of an olive orchard within minutes, but the exhausted firefighters were able to claim some semblance of victory.

Thick plumes of white smoke rose over the Pendeli hills as the ABC News crew turned off the highway and drove through evacuated villas separated by orchards and pine trees. A small group of people stood on a hillside watching fire take hold in the valley below. Above, a dozen Italian firefighting planes started their slow-circling descent toward the flames.

One after the other they flew low into the smoke to release their water before slowly climbing back into the clear blue sky, heading off toward the coast to refill.

The twisting country lanes leading to the floor of the valley were deserted except for Greek firefighters struggling with a locked gate that prevented firetrucks from getting to the burning orchard.

Eventually a local man driving a jeep rammed the fence until it collapsed. Firefighters quickly hooked up their fire hoses and began to douse the flaming hillside.

Mature pines trees and shrubs, tinder-dry from months of summer sun, were quickly consumed. But the drop in winds allowed the firefighters in the Pikermi olive grove to quickly bring the flames under control.

Nevertheless, in just minutes, half of this ancient olive grove was lost. It will take decades to grow back.