Greece's first wildfires sweep Athens area

ATHENS, Greece, June 16 (UPI) -- Firefighters Tuesday brought under control wildfires sweeping pine trees on Mount Hymettus outside Athens and on nearby Evia Island, Greek authorities said.

More than 100 firefighters, along with eight water-dropping planes and two helicopters, Monday began extinguishing the fires, which were fanned by strong winds.

State prosecutors opened an inquiry into the cause of the fires -- the first of the season in Greece, the Athens News Agency reported.

The blazes broke out at midday Monday in open land covered with low vegetation and bushes in the posh Ano Glyfada district in the southern Athens coastal region.