Greek fire plane crashes as blaze threatens homes

ATHENS, July 23 (Reuters) A Greek firefighting plane crashed today, killing one of its two-member crew while trying to stop a forest fire reaching homes on the island of Evia, authorities said.

A village was evacuated and three homes were destroyed by the forest fire that raged unchecked on the Aegean island. Six planes and one helicopter were aiding more than 40 firefighters on the ground.

The Greek airforce Canadair crashed while dropping water on the blaze, an airforce official said. The second crew member was missing.

The fire department's resources have been stretched as more than 1,450 fires have broken out in Greece this July during the country's hottest summer for more than a century following an especially dry winter.

Earlier this month, three firefighters were killed when trapped in a forest fire on the island of Crete.

Reuters JK GC2013