Greece braces for summer wildfires

Flames burning a forest in Vati village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece last July. Greek authorities presented a new action plan in March for tackling wildfires which often ravage the country during its hot, dry summers. — AP

WHEN firefighters arrived at a blaze in a pine forest on the Greek island of Rhodes last July, flames were already leaping above the trees into the night sky.

The volunteers needed to act fast, but dense vegetation on the forest floor blocked access.