ATHENS: Strong winds yesterday fanned a huge wildfire that tore through scores of homes and thousands of acres of forest near Athens, forcing thousands of residents to flee.

Thick plumes of smoke hung over the Acropolis as the flames, raging unchecked for a second day, reached the Greek capital's northern suburbs, testing state resources.

"The winds are stronger and change direction all the time, spreading the fire even further," said a fire brigade spokesman.

Help from Greece's EU allies started to arrive. Two Italian aircraft joined fire fighting efforts and more are expected from France and Cyprus today.

Twelve aircraft, seven helicopters, 136 fire engines, 644 firemen and 340 soldiers were battling the blaze, officials said.

Meanwhile, in west Athens yesterday, a man caused a brush fire when he tried to kill his wife by setting her on fire.

The man "poured a flammable liquid" on his wife, who ran into a clump of bushes and set them on fire.

The blaze was rapidly extinguished by the fire department, which has been hard pressed to contain the massive wildfire threatening Athens.

l A wildfire erupted in a game reserve in northwestern Spain. Authorities said the blaze broke out in the Sierra de la Culebra reserve, home to wolves, wild boar and deer, in Zamora province near the Portuguese border.