Three helicopters deployed to Greece support firefighting efforts July 28, 2023, near the coastal town of Volos, north of Athens. (X/U.S. Embassy Athens)

U.S. sailors and Marines from Task Force 61/2 are in Greece helping fight wildfires there that have destroyed homes and businesses and killed at least five people.

Four UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, Combat Aviation Brigade joined fire suppression efforts near the coastal town of Volos, north of Athens, on Friday, U.S. European Command said in a statement Saturday.

Additionally, three CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade along with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable also were available to help, U.S. officials said.

The response team, which arrived in Athens on Thursday, is focused on helping with firefighting and lifesaving operations as requested by the Greek government, said Brig. Gen. Andrew Priddy, commander of the immediate response team from Task Force 61/2, which is operated under U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

Greece has been battling a series of blazes fanned by scorching heat and high winds. Fires have been raging throughout the country and on some Greek islands over the past two weeks.

Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate, and on Thursday, flames reached an ammunition depot near the town of Nea Aglialos, causing it to explode, news agency Reuters reported the same day.

The fires died down Friday, but firefighters were focused on tamping down flare-ups, according to Reuters.