WATCH: Highland helicopter pilot who tackles wildfires for a living caught up in evacuation drama as blazes ravage Greek holiday island
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A Highland helicopter pilot who waterbombed wildfires at Cannich this summer was last night caught up in an emergency evacuation as flames engulfed a Greek island.
Skilled aviator Menno Buyze (47) and wife Adele (42), from Slackbuie, were just settling into the first night of a week-long holiday in Corfu when the drama unfolded.
With echoes of the devastating fires now ravaging Rhodes in the Mediterranean, three or four separate blazes – all believed to have been lit by arsonists – sparked the Corfu authorities into action.
Initially, an evening message assured residents they were safe, but the alarm was raised at just after 10.30 pm at the couple’s resort hotel, the Atlantica Nissaki Beach, in north-west Corfu.
Guests were told to quickly leave their rooms, taking only one small bag with them, and to congregate at the poolside.
From there, they could see the red glow of flames lighting the sky above hillsides surrounding Mount Pantokratoras, the Ionian island’s highest peak.
Despite the local mayor’s grave concerns and rapid response, Dutchman Mr Buyze insists he and South Africa-born Mrs Buyze – who is a pilates instructor with My Movement Space at Inshes Retail Park – were never in any fear for their lives.
The worst of the fires were a good distance away, although the operation on the hillsides continues.
By 1.30 am, a well-organised evacuation using buses had taken the couple and more than a thousand visitors and local residents to temporary overnight shelter at Corfu town’s Municipal Theatre.
Other tourists and locals were taken to the Agios Markos sports stadium.
Mr Buyze, who has worked for four years with PDG Aviation Services, based at Dalcross, was back at the couple’s hotel this morning after the resort was declared safe.
Acknowledging the irony of finding himself in a ‘busman’s holiday’ situation, Mr Buyze said: “I’m a helicopter pilot and did the Cannich fire earlier in the summer and another in Fort William. Every season, we are called to wildfires.
“We’re told four different fires in Corfu were started yesterday afternoon in different areas, but at around the same time.
“For that reason, it is suspected arson.
“The wind was coming from a north-easterly direction and it moved south-westerly, towards where we are, opposite Corfu town.
“We got a message after dinner saying that one of the fires was 20 miles away so there was no threat to the hotel and that we didn’t need to worry.
“But at about 10.30 pm, the hotel’s fire alarm went off and we all came down to the swimming pool area.
“We could see a red glow in the sky above the mountain and the northern side was burning. “We were told the Governor of Corfu, as a precaution, wanted everyone in the area to evacuate and be safe.
“It was all very calm and well-organised. I can’t praise the Greek authorities enough.
“We were among the last to arrive at about 1.30 am. It was obviously hot in the heatwave, with no breeze, but it was very comfortable at the theatre and there was plenty of water supplied.
“We booked with the travel firm TUI and every time we spoke to a guide or rep, the answers they gave us were correct.
“They said the fire would be under control by morning and it was.
“Firefighters from Athens came across and there were about 10 fire trucks in action. This morning there were two helicopters and two planes involved.
“By about 8am, we were told we would be heading back to our hotel.
“It’s a relief and now we can hopefully begin to enjoy our holiday!”
Searing temperatures have greatly increased the wildfire risk in southern Europe this summer with blazes on Rhodes still rampaging out of control, displacing many thousands of residents and holidaymakers.
Corfu and Evia are the latest Greek islands to issue evacuation orders, as the country grapples with a sustained crisis.
Giorgos Mahimaris, the mayor of North Corfu, has today visited various locations on Mount Pantokratoras where fire broke out and made it clear he blames arson by a small group of people.
Two helicopters and two fire-fighting planes joined local firefighting teams and others flown in from mainland Athens to tackle the blaze.
Chariton Koutscouris, the region's deputy mayor of tourism and construction, said the blazes were down to a "group of people".
He told the BBC: “They get pleasure out of this with the pain of the other people.”
Officials are said to have been warned on Friday by the fire department chief that someone who started two fires last week would start another.
