A fierce forest fire that broke out Wednesday on a mountainside overlooking the Olympic Village, has been brought under full control, a Greek government spokesman said.

A forest fire on Mount Parnitha which started at 12:50 (1050 GMT) was finally placed under full control at 4:30 p.m. (1430 GMT) after killing one and burning at least 15 houses, a nursery and thousands of acres of forest expanse.

According to the fire brigade and police, a man aged 74 was held responsible for setting the fire.

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said the fire brigade, the civil protection authority, the prefectural and local government authority and the citizens of the region made every effort, under unfavorable weather conditions, to bring the fire under control.

The Fire Brigade assured Secretary General for the Olympic Games Spyros Capralos that the Olympic Village, the Media Center and the Parnitha Olympic Mountain Bike venue nearby was not in danger.

More than 210 firefighters with 45 fire engines plus six helicopters were rushed to the area to fight against the blaze.

Officials suspect criminal motives behind the fire, about four km from the Olympic village northwest of Athens, because it broke out simultaneously in six or seven different spots, according to Athens News Agency.

Police were combing the area for suspects, the report said.

In an telephone interview with Xinhua, woman police officer Alexandra Koutri refused to comment on the reports, saying that the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Source: Xinhua