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A firefighter tackles forest fires in Greece as rising temperatures heightened risk. Credit: Vasilis Psomas / AMNA.
According to Greece’s Fire Service on Monday, sixty-four forest fires broke out across the country in the last two days, as rising temperatures heightened fire risk, with officials attributing most incidents to negligence during outdoor work and other activities.
Early assessments suggest that human carelessness is the primary cause in most cases. Specialized investigative units are currently examining each incident to establish the exact cause and determine responsibility where appropriate.
Heat and negligence heighten risk of forest fires across Greece
Officials said recent high temperatures have increased the risk of ignition and allowed fires to spread more rapidly. However, firefighting forces managed to bring most blazes under control at an early stage through rapid intervention.
The Hellenic Fire Service noted that the swift response prevented the fires from reaching populated areas, highlighting the importance of immediate mobilization in the critical moments after a fire breaks out.
The warning comes as Greece enters a particularly dangerous period for forest fire activity, when dry vegetation, rising temperatures, and local winds can quickly turn even a small spark into a fast-moving blaze.
Hundreds of fines and dozens of arrests since January
Authorities have stepped up enforcement of fire prevention regulations since the beginning of the year. From January 1 through June 7, they imposed 402 administrative fines across Greece, totaling around €383,395 ($442,500). During the same period, authorities made seventy-one arrests as called for under procedures for violations of fire prevention legislation.
The figures reflect a broader effort to discourage risky behavior before it leads to larger fires, particularly during periods when weather conditions make the natural environment more vulnerable.
Fire service urges public to avoid risky outdoor activity
The Fire Service has called on citizens to exercise extreme caution during outdoor activities, particularly those involving sparks, flames, machinery, burning materials, or labor near dry grass and forested areas.
Officials emphasized that most forest fires can be prevented by adhering to basic safety rules and avoiding actions that could ignite a blaze. “Attention from everyone is crucial for protecting human life, property, and the natural environment,” Greek authorities said.
Greece braces for forest fires as summer heat intensifies with expanded resources
The latest warning comes as Greece enters the wildfire season with a significantly reinforced firefighting plan designed to address increasingly intense and unpredictable summer blazes across the country. On the ground, the Hellenic Fire Service currently counts 17,727 permanent and seasonal firefighters, with the force expected to rise to 18,804 by the end of the year. More than 4,300 vehicles support this expanded manpower, enabling faster deployment and tactical assistance to regional units across both mainland and island areas.
Specialized forest commando units are expected to play a central role in this year’s strategy. These teams are trained to operate in challenging and inaccessible terrain where conventional firefighting forces may struggle to intervene quickly. The elite corps now consists of twenty-one units with 1,450 personnel, marking a sharp expansion compared to 2022, when the program began with just six units.
Greece has also strengthened its aerial firefighting capacity, with eighty to eighty-five aircraft expected to be available daily during the high-risk season, including thirty-three state-owned aircraft and fifty-one leased planes. These resources are intended to support rapid aerial containment, particularly in the critical early stages of a forest fire.
Authorities are increasingly relying on technology as well, including an expanded drone fleet, to improve surveillance and early detection in vulnerable areas. The goal is to identify smoke, heat signatures, or suspicious activity before fires spread, allowing Civil Protection and fire services to coordinate a faster response.
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