[6] Hot temperatures, including three consecutive heat waves of over 40 °C (105 °F),[7] and severe drought rendered the 2007 summer unprecedented in modern Greek history.

Overall, the mountain of Parnitha suffered a burnt area of 38,000 acres (153.8 km2),[12] making it one of the worst recorded wildfires in Attica since the Penteli fire of July 1995.

Environmental studies in Greece report that the Athenian microclimate will significantly change to warmer during the summer season, and flooding is now a very probable danger for the northern suburbs of the city.

[1] Mount Parnitha was considered the 'lungs' of Athens;[13] following its considerable burning, both the city and local flora and fauna are expected to feel the consequences.

In Peloponnese around 20 July 2007, a fire which started from the mountains over the town of Aigio expanded rapidly towards Diakopto and Akrata, destroyed a large area of forests and cultivated land.

In the same fire many villages were totally or partially burned, resulting in the loss of 230 houses and 10 churches; three people lost their lives.

[19] Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis declared a state of emergency for the whole country and requested help from fellow members of the European Union.

[27] Despite the Minister's claims, it has been established, as of 26 August, that the afflicted damage is of greater importance and scale;[28] the sacred Hill of Kronos was totally burnt during the blaze.

[11][25] New Culture Minister Michalis Liapis has stated that 3,200 bushes and saplings will be planted on the Hill of Kronos, to return the area to its previous appearance.

[5] When the August fires broke out, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis requested help from the members of the European Union and other nations.

[6][20][22] Greek government press minister Theodoros Roussopoulos confirmed on 27 August that 61 people had been arrested on suspicion of involvement in arson, seven of these being retained in custody.

On 27 August 2007, PASOK leader George Papandreou accused the government of insinuating that his party is involved in the fires and called on Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis to produce any evidence that would support there was such an organized plan.

[50] Heavy criticism directed towards the government for its handling of the crisis, with the Greek press forming a chorus in ridiculing the incompetence of the country's officials, was accentuated in September by the reported discovery of steps aimed at giving a green light to property developers in the ravaged region.

[51] On 25 August, Super League Greece and the Hellenic Football Federation decided to postpone the opening fixtures scheduled for that weekend due to the fires.

[57] The HOC states, "Unless it drastically improves in the coming period, (Olympia's) present image will constitute global defamation for Greece.

[58] The government has created a special account in all Greek banks, where financial help in relief of the people affected by the fire from all over the world is accepted.

[60] Forms of assistance in nature were also offered such as olive plants contributed by a Turkish municipality and businessmen to a collect already organized in Mytilene.

[62] Opposition parties, in the meantime, accused the government of using the scheme to "buy" the votes of locals in the weeks before the Greek legislative election, 2007.

[65] The European Union has proposed 89.7 million euros in aid to Greece to offset part of the cost of the 2007 forest fires.

[66] The grant will be used to reimburse the costs of rescue services, provision of temporary housing, cleaning up of disaster-stricken areas, and the restoration of basic infrastructures to working condition.

[67] The Greek Government has urged regional authorities to start replanting large areas burnt by the summer forest fires.

[8] Plans included anti-erosion measures and extensive replanting in the hardest hit prefectures of Arcadia, Achaea, Elis, Corinthia, Laconia, Messenia, and Euboea.