Firefighters, soldiers, aircraft battle wildfire north of Athens

ATHENS, Greece – Firefighters and soldiers are battling a wildfire that broke out overnight and burned through forest near Greece's capital city, Athens. Authorities have managed to prevent the flames from moving into a nature reserve near the city's northern suburbs.

The fire department says nearly 300 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers struggled through the night to contain the blaze that broke out in the Varibobi area north of Athens. At first light Tuesday they were joined by 10 water-dropping planes and two helicopters. At least four homes in the area were burned.

The blaze broke out late Monday night, the fire department said in a statement. Earlier Monday, another large wildfire burned about 10 homes as it raged through a hamlet near Marathon, north of Athens.