An airplane drops water over a fire in the village of Gavalas, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. Greek authorities say four villages were evacuated overnight on the island of Evia after two new brush fires broke out several hours after a major blaze led to the mobilization of more than 100 firefighters and the evacuation of another village. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greek authorities sent reinforcements to firefighters battling four wildfires burning out of control on the Greek island of Evia Friday, while at least five villages were evacuated.
The fire department sent dozens of reinforcements as well as extra firefighting aircraft to the area. More than 330 firefighters, assisted by eight water-dropping planes, nine helicopters and more than 100 vehicles, were trying to bring the flames under control in central Evia.
One of the blazes broke out early Thursday afternoon and was burning woodland and agricultural areas, while another two started simultaneously just before midnight Thursday. The blazes led to five villages being evacuated.
The fire department said a fourth, a forest fire, broke out in the same area Friday afternoon.
The fires were the largest to have broken out so far this year in Greece, a country where wildfires are common during the hot, dry summer months.
Last summer, the country's deadliest fire killed 101 people in the seaside settlement of Mati outside of Athens, including many who drowned as they tried to swim away from intense heat and smoke engulfing beaches.
For Friday's blazes, Greek authorities said they had activated the European Union's Copernicus Emergency Management Service satellite program to map the affected areas.
Earlier Friday, the fire department said that a 64-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of starting the first fire that broke out Thursday by using a naked flame to burn dried weeds near his house. The man was to appear before a prosecutor in court Friday.
Burning dried weeds and other such activities outdoors, such as setting campfires, is banned in Greece from May 1-Oct. 1 as part of measures to prevent forest fires.
An airplane drops water over a fire as a cow is seen at a farm in the village of Gavalas, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. Greek authorities say four villages were evacuated overnight on the island of Evia after two new brush fires broke out several hours after a major blaze led to the mobilization of more than 100 firefighters and the evacuation of another village. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
Airplanes operate over a fire in the village of Gavalas, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. Greek authorities say four villages were evacuated overnight on the island of Evia after two new brush fires broke out several hours after a major blaze led to the mobilization of more than 100 firefighters and the evacuation of another village. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
Animals take cover at a farm during a wildfire in the village of Gavalas, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. Greek authorities say four villages were evacuated overnight on the island of Evia after two new brush fires broke out several hours after a major blaze led to the mobilization of more than 100 firefighters and the evacuation of another village. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
Fire burns a forrest near the village of Trachyli, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution.(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
Helicopters operate over a fire near the village of Trachyli, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
An elderly woman stands as a fire burns near the village of Kremastos, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
Fire burns a forrest near the village of Trachyli, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution.(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
Local residents give directions to the firefighters in the village of Trachyli, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution.(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press
An helicopter drops water over a fire near the village of Trachyli, on the Greek island of Evia, Friday, July 5, 2019. More than 250 firefighters were battling four wildfires on the Greek island of Evia on Friday, with authorities ordering the evacuation of four villages as a precaution. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
The Associated Press