Guardian: Thousands battle to save homes as forest blazes spread out of control on outskirts of Athens Link to this video Thousands of Greeks were battling to save their homes from forest fires raging out of control on the outskirts of Athens as authorities declared a state of emergency and mobilised the army today in the capital. Gale-force winds hampered firefighting efforts for a second day as the flames encroached on the city’s outer suburbs. Officials appealed to residents to …