Lavrio: fire with 112 evacuation message

A fire broke out in low vegetation at Kalopigado, in Lavrio in East Attica, around 15:40 on Tuesday 25 August 2026. Strong winds helped the flames spread quickly toward residential areas, with the first houses in Trichantira and Spiliazeses very close to the fire front. Residents described moments of anguish as the flames approached yards and fences, while thick smoke covered the wider Lavrio area and limited visibility on several roads. The rapid deterioration of the situation within minutes led the authorities to immediately activate the emergency public alert system, as the risk to human life was considered immediate.

At 16:09 the 112 system sent an evacuation message for the settlements of Agia Marina and Tsonima, calling on residents to head toward Lavriou Avenue. According to the message, “if you are in Agia Marina and Tsonima, in the Regional Unit of East Attica, move toward Lavriou Avenue. Follow the instructions of the authorities.” According to the Fire Service, 70 firefighters with three ground crew teams, including the 1st Special Forest Fire Fighting Unit, are operating, reinforced by 18 to 23 vehicles that moved to the scene from different routes in East Attica. As for aerial resources, the first reports differ noticeably: some sources mention two aircraft and one helicopter, while others report five aircraft and four helicopters, a discrepancy that has not been officially clarified by the Fire Service and is expected to be clarified in the operation’s final report.

The Lavrio fire comes after a particularly intense 24 hours for Attica and the rest of the country, with the Fire Service having recorded 49 rural and forest fires in a 24-hour period nationwide. East Attica was already on heightened alert, as Tuesday had been announced as a day of high fire risk in eight regions, with services having already prepared additional forces on standby. The conditions recall the recent episode in Porto Germeno, where ground temperature rose by 14 degrees, showing how flammable the ground remains across Attica after a prolonged heatwave. For residents of Lavrio, the proximity of the flames to settlements means that every such episode directly tests the resilience of the local community and once again raises the issue of protecting the edges of settlements bordering forest and grassland vegetation.

By late Tuesday afternoon, the Fire Service had not announced any damage assessment to homes or property, nor any injuries to residents or firefighters. The cause that sparked the fire at Kalopigado has not yet been clarified, with the relevant investigations expected to begin after the fire is fully extinguished and the ignition site is examined. The evacuation message remained in effect during the first hours after it was sent, with the authorities calling on residents to strictly follow their instructions and avoid returning to the areas until further notice from the Fire Service. The development of the operation in the coming hours is expected to determine whether additional evacuations will be needed in neighbouring settlements or whether the situation will de-escalate, with updates to be given as new information becomes available.