On 29/08/2007 a fire broke out at the foot of the mountain located a few meters from our city and not far from our school. A helium filled balloon became entangled with the electrical wires of the National Electrical Company creating sparks and setting off the fire which grew very quickly. Fortunately it was brought under control after two hours thanks to the immediate response of the Fire Department which used four planes, a helicopter, 14 fire trucks and 69 men to extinguish the fire.
According to first estimates, the fire roughly destroyed 30 hectares, of which 10 hectares consisted of pinewood and 20 hectares of brush. Even though the size of the fire was not big, it shocked the residents of Eleutheroupoli with the fire being only a short distance from their homes and next to an army camp.
Below are photographs that show the burnt area of the mountain, as well as a video (download from here with right click) that one of the team members had in his possession. (video is 6MB and in low quality)

Using the information found about the consequences of forest fires, we brainstormed on our own and our findings along with any information concerning the 10ha of pine forest destroyed are presented below.

• 10 ha forest ensure 25 000kg oxygen production in one year
• 10 ha forest absorb from the atmosphere 40 000 carbon dioxide in one year
• 10 ha pine forest absorb 320 000kg of dust
• 150m of pine forest will stop the movement of wind
• Noise pollution is reduced by 10 decibels