Athens - Greek authorities placed a town mayor in pre-trial detention on Aug 7 after charging him with arson over a wildfire that ravaged large areas of forest near Athens last week.

Investigators believe the blaze started with a spark from power cables managed by a private company near Agios Vasileios, a seaside village at the foot of a mountain 85km northwest of Athens.

Fanned by wind gusts of up to 130kmh, the fire quickly spread towards the southern slopes of Mount Kithairon and reached a town about 40km from Athens.

Giannis Apostolou, mayor of the small town of Stylida in a different part of Greece, owns an electrical installation company linked to a wind farm in the affected area. Investigators are accusing him and a contractor of arson and damaging public utilities.

Both men could face more than 10 years in jail if convicted. AFP

Greek mayor accused of arson over wildfire near Athens