TAMPA, Fla. — The wildfires in Greece have destroyed homes and triggered massive explosions at an Air Force ammunitions depot. Meanwhile hundreds of Tarpon Springs residents are currently in the country attending several huge family events. Johanna Gatzoulis is one part of the large group of Floridians and has seen crews fight to keep the flames at bay.

What You Need To Know

  •  More than 300 Tarpons Springs residents are in Greece

  •  Most are in and around Kálymnos an island about 80 miles southeast of Rhodes where the fires are burning

  •  Greek authorities say some of the fires were set by arsonists

“I couldn’t smell it but I did see helicopters with water going back and forth to bring over to that area," Gatzoulis said. “And I know there was some deviation in Rhodes right now. That has been contained. I have friends that are there right now and they’re okay.”

The fires forced Gatzoulis to change her travel plans and spend most of her time in Kálymnos, an island about 80 miles southeast of Rhodes where much out of the fire is burning, but she’s not alone.

“Half of Tarpon Springs is probably here," she said. “We had a big wedding last weekend on the hottest day of the year. It was 111 degrees that day.”

More than 300 other Tarpon Springs residents are in Kálymnos too as guests of a prominent Tarpon Springs couple who tied the knot there.

“And a lot of them are still here," she said. “Because we had a baptism Friday and another baptism on Monday.”

Gatzoulis says the wildfires didn't impact any of celebrations at all, but the fact that authorities say some of the fires were set by arsonists has everyone in the country on alert.  

“I used to live here in Greece and fires are very common in the summer," she said. “And it’s common they do this to clear ground. Some are by accident, but the majority of times it’s because arson.”

But she says there's no other place on earth she and the rest of her big Greek Tarpon Springs family would rather be now.

“It’s safe to be in Greece," she said. “It’s beautiful to be in Greece and to see friends and family and I know anyone one comes here will love this hospitality of Greece.”