Markopoulo, Spata: arrests and fines for grilling

Seven arrests were made by investigation officers of the Fire Department for violations of fire protection legislation, according to the Fire Service bulletin covering the 24-hour period August 4-5, 2026 — a period during which 25 agricultural-forest fires broke out across the country. Two of the cases were recorded in Eastern Attica. In Markopoulo a man was arrested for reportedly conducting hot-work activities on a lot, while in Spata a foreign national was arrested for using a grill in outdoor space. In both cases administrative fines of 3,000 euros were imposed. The arrested persons are fully covered by the presumption of innocence and the offenses attributed to them concern negligent arson.

Similar cases were recorded outside Attica as well. In Trikala a man was arrested for burning plant waste material, with the administrative fine in this case amounting to 1,500 euros. Beyond the arrests, four additional administrative fines were also imposed for comparable violations. The difference in fine amounts is not random: fire protection legislation scales penalties according to the type of activity and the degree of danger on the day in question, with the highest charges reserved for activities conducted when the risk index is at higher levels. Beyond the administrative aspect, these cases are also referred to the justice system, as negligent arson is expressly provided for in the Penal Code and is not extinguished by payment of the fine. The combination of 25 fires in a 24-hour period with the seven arrests shows that a significant part of the incidents is attributed to human actions rather than natural causes.

And this is precisely what is occurring on Thursday August 6. The Fire Danger Forecast Map of the General Secretariat of Civil Protection placed the Attica Region as well as the Boeotia and Evia Regional Units in fire danger category 4, meaning very high risk, while the state mechanism was placed on ‘Red Code’ alert. The weather in Attica is clear, with northerly winds of 4 to 6 Beaufort and temperatures ranging from 25 to 36 degrees Celsius — conditions under which a spark in dry low vegetation can develop into a fire front within minutes.

Intensified inspections in Eastern Attica are not new. In preceding days there had been arrests for use of grills during fire alert, while the area had also been tested by the fire in Driggia Koropi, where dozens of firefighters and aerial means were mobilized. Current bans during high-risk days cover burning of waste materials, use of spark-producing tools such as wheels and welding, and lighting fires in outdoor spaces, even on private property. The Fire Department continues patrols and inspections, while an updated risk forecast is issued daily by Civil Protection for the following day.