THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — 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.