The residents of the affluent suburb north of the Greek capital, named Penteli after the mountain, have grown accustomed to firefighter exercises since many homes in the area were lost to flames last August.
The latest simulation was run by a team led by Apollon Kounis, 48, a resident and municipal employee who says he has “dedicated” himself to protecting the Penteli forest since his youth.
Twelve men, supported by three vehicles, took part in the exercise, part of a team of 100 volunteers from the nearby town of Rodopoli.
“This is our last exercise of the season before we begin 24/7 shifts at our emergency station next month,” Kounis told AFP.
“Since 2018, I haven’t taken a summer vacation. Saving the forest is my life.”
‘Save what remains’
Greece suffers forest fires every summer, a threat exacerbated by rising temperatures and drought brought about by the climate crisis, experts say.
Nearly 10,000 hectares (24,700 acres) in the Athens region burned last year in a fire that started in Varnavas, 35 kilometres (22 miles) northeast of the capital.
It was attributed to a short circuit on an electricity pole.