Prime minister visits Greek island hit by damaging wildfires

In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 a wildlife approaches the village of Rahoni on the northern Greek island of Thassos. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visits the holiday island in northern Greece on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 where a state of emergency has been declared as a forest fire burns out of control for a third day, gutting homes and small farms. (Eurokinissi via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this photo released by Greek Prime Minister's office shows Alexis Tsipras, right, watches from a military helicopter a wildfire on the northern Greek island of Thassos on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016. Greek Prime Minister visits the holiday island in northern Greece where a state of emergency has been declared as a forest fire burns out of control for a third day, gutting homes and small farms. (Andrea Bonetti/Greek Prime Minister's Office via AP) (The Associated Press)

In this Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016 photo a military helicopter drops water over a wildlife in the village of Rahoni on the northern Greek island of Thassos. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visits the holiday island in northern Greece on Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 where a state of emergency has been declared as a forest fire burns out of control for a third day, gutting homes and small farms. (Eurokinissi via AP) (The Associated Press)

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is visiting a holiday island in northern Greece where a state of emergency has been declared as a forest fire burns out of control for a third day, gutting homes and small farms.

Tsipras arrived by military helicopter early Monday on the island of Thassos as some 250 firefighters and army conscripts continued to battle the fire sweeping across mountainous areas of the popular vacation spot.

Schools remained closed as the fire burned, but posed no immediate threat to coastal resorts. At least eight homes were destroyed or seriously damaged.

Six water-dropping helicopters and five planes are involved in containing the blaze.