Forest fires rage in Greece, threaten Olympics birthplace

One of the major forest fires burning in Greece amid a protracted heat wave is threatening the archaeological site at the birthplace of the modern Olympics

LIMNI, Greece -- One of the major forest fires burning in Greece amid a protracted heat wave threatened the archaeological site at the birthplace of the modern Olympics as the Greek military prepared Thursday to increase its involvement in preventing new blazes from raging out of control. Firefighters waged “an all-night battle” to protect the archaeological site from the fire in the southern Greek region of the Peloponnese near ancient Olympia, Citizens Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis said. The site is where the Olympics were held every four years from 776 B.C. for more than a millennium. “We will continue the battle all day in order to contain all the fronts and extinguish the fire. The conditions are difficult,” Chrisochoidis said, congratulating the firefighters for what he described as heroic efforts so far. The same area was ravaged by wildfires in 2007 that killed dozens of people but spared Olympia’s ruined sports venues and temples.