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Greek firefighters close to containing wildfire near Athens

A firefighter puts his hand to his face during a forest fire near Kapandriti north of Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. A large wildfire north of Athens is threatening homes as it sweeps through pine forest for a third day.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) A firefighter puts his hand to his face during a forest fire near Kapandriti north of Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. A large wildfire north of Athens is threatening homes as it sweeps through pine forest for a third day.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

By Associated Press August 16, 2017 1 min read

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greece’s fire department says it’s close to containing a wildfire that is burning north of Athens for a fourth day.

Army bulldozers are being used to set up firebreaks around the Kalamos area, about 45 kilometers (28 miles) north of Athens, before an expected pickup in winds later Wednesday.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visited fire-damaged areas by helicopter, while more than 300 firefighters remained deployed there, supported by five water-dropping planes and six helicopters.

No serious injuries have been reported since the fire broke out Sunday. The Fire Service hasn’t issued a damage estimate, but the blaze is believed to have gutted or damaged several dozen homes.

Wildfires also continued in the Peloponnese in southern Greece and on the western island of Zakynthos.