Andros: fire in farmland-woodland at Ano Gavrio

A fire broke out at midday on Monday, August 17, in farmland-woodland at Ano Gavrio on Andros. According to a report from Koini Gnomi, the incident occurred at around 14:30, and ground firefighting forces were mobilised at the scene, with aerial resources also assisting in the firefighting effort. Farmland-woodland refers to land where cultivated ground borders forest or scrub vegetation, a condition that makes it harder to pinpoint the boundaries of the fire front. The same source clarifies that this is a different flare-up from the one that broke out at Kato Aprovato on Sunday, August 16, at another spot on the island. The published information does not include details on the cause of the fire, the size of the burned area, or any threat to homes or other infrastructure.

Gavrio is on the northwestern side of Andros and is the island’s main port, with Ano Gavrio spreading inland above the coastal strip. In mid-August, the Cyclades are in the most vulnerable period of the fire season: vegetation has dried out after weeks of high temperatures, and winds can carry embers far from the original source. The time the fire broke out also has operational significance, since aerial resources only operate in daylight, and any fire that starts in the early afternoon leaves a limited window for aerial water drops before sunset.

For an island community, the proximity of farmland and woodland to settlements means that even a limited flare-up requires immediate mobilisation. Andros has one of the most extensive networks of streams, terraces and paths in the Cyclades, a feature that has given it a reputation as one of the greenest islands in the group, but which also provides significant fuel where cultivation has been abandoned. The terrain, with its steep slopes, makes vehicle access difficult, while each island’s permanent forces are by definition limited, and reinforcement depends on the availability of aerial resources and the time needed to transfer personnel from the mainland. The fact that two separate incidents occurred on two consecutive days adds pressure to the local capacity at the peak of the tourist season.

The next critical stage in such incidents is guarding the site to prevent flare-ups, since residual pockets of fire in dry vegetation can reignite with a change in wind. The causes of the fire are typically investigated by the relevant Fire Service unit, while the assessment of damage to crops and livestock facilities takes place after the fire is fully extinguished. No timeline has been announced for completing the operation, and it is not known whether a precautionary evacuation of residents or visitors from nearby areas was needed. Updates on the incident are expected from the Fire Service and the island’s local authorities.