Greece ? Winds relented throughout fire-ravaged Greece, enabling thousands of firefighters Wednesday to tame a rash of fires that killed at least 64 people and obliterated huge swaths of fields and forests over six days.

The fire department said all major blazes were receding, but authorities remained on high alert ahead of a new heat wave forecast for week’s end.

With most fires under control, the conservative government turned its attention to a vast relief effort – less than three weeks before national elections.

“Our main task now is to relieve the pain, the stress and the agony that the victims of the forest fires … are feeling,” deputy government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said.

A helpline set up for fire victims and offers of aid has received more than 40,000 calls, mostly from volunteers who want to contribute, Deputy Finance Minister Petros Doukas said.