Drop in winds offers hope as firefighters battle huge wildfire on fringes of Athens. 1 person dead WSB-TV Channel 2 [Video]

ATHENS, Greece — (AP) — A major wildfire raged across the northern suburbs of Athens on Monday, leaving at least one person dead and triggering multiple evacuations as swirling winds hampered the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and dozens of water-dropping planes.

The fire department said shortly after midnight that firefighters found a body in a burnt building in the suburb of Vrilissia, but was unable to immediately provide further details.

The blaze started Sunday near Lake Marathon, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) northeast of Athens, coursed across Mount Pendeli and reached the capital’s northern suburbs. It burnt several homes and businesses in the city suburbs and in communities near the lake.

Greece went on high alert but by late night Monday, a drop in winds offered hope and officials reported progress against the massive, fast-moving blaze that spawned flames over 25 meters (80 feet) high.

Fire Department spokesperson Col. Vassileios Vathrakogiannis said firefighters were …