Andros: fire in Lower Aprovato, 112 called

A fire in a residential area of Lower Aprovato, Andros, broke out around 08:15 on Sunday, August 16, 2026, and was brought under full control at 08:57, that is, within approximately 45 minutes. The 112 sent a message to residents of the Aprovato area urging them to remain on alert, without issuing an evacuation order. In the extinguishing effort, according to Fire Service data as reported by local media, twenty firefighters with five vehicles and a hiking team unit were deployed, while a helicopter provided aerial support. A crucial role was played by the fact that a firefighting unit was already stationed near the site and attacked the fire in the first minutes, before it could develop. The 112 message was sent shortly after 08:14, almost simultaneously with the first report.

Despite its short duration, the incident was not without damages. Because the fire broke out in a residential area and not a forest, electrical network cables, irrigation hoses, and solar panels were destroyed. No injuries to residents or damage to buildings were reported. After extinguishing, forces remained at the site for surveillance, a procedure that is typical when strong winds are blowing and there is a risk of re-ignition from remaining foci. Regarding the exact location, one source refers to Upper Aprovato in the title of its post, while in its text and other sources the incident is placed in Lower Aprovato. Residents near the fire site assisted with private means until the arrival of fire vehicles, a practice common in small islands where distances from the nearest station are large.

The day found the Cyclades at very high fire hazard, category 4, with the General Secretariat of Civil Protection placing the Regional Unit of Cyclades on Red Code alert status for Sunday. Meanwhile, strong northern winds were blowing in the central Aegean, which had previously led to sailing bans. The same category of risk applied on Saturday, as documented by TodayGrid in the report «Cyclades: very high fire hazard». In category 4, there is a ban on traffic in forests and complete prohibition of outdoor fire use. The same day saw fire in Tinos, in the Triandaro area, evidence that the pressure concerned multiple islands of the cluster simultaneously.

Andros has extensive agricultural and semi-mountainous areas with dry vegetation at the end of summer, while its settlements are dispersed and often accessible only through narrow roads, a fact that makes every delay in first attack critical. The island does not have permanently stationed aerial vehicles and relies on their transfer from the mainland, with flight time added to response time. The causes of the fire have not been disclosed and are being investigated by the competent authorities. More from the island on the page Andros. The Municipality of Andros has water-carrying vehicles and volunteer teams that are activated on high-risk days, however coverage remains uneven among settlements.