By Angeliki Koutantou and Renee Maltezou

ATHENS (Reuters) -When Greek firefighters investigated the cause of a deadly wildfire near the Athens Riviera in August, they found a familiar culprit: a loose power cable whose sparks were blown across a field of dry grass in a windstorm.

The investigators’ report, seen by Reuters, said the cable near the town of Keratea showed signs of oxidation and improper maintenance. Within hours, the blaze had killed one person and burned 4,000 acres (16 square km) of land abutting tourist beaches south of the capital.

“It was rapid,” said Keratea resident Manolis Palaiolougkas, pointing to an area of charred earth just outside town where the fire started.

Faulty power lines were the leading cause of major wildfires this summer, overshadowing arson and ne

See Full Page