Fire in Elani, Kassandra, 112 alert sent

A forest fire broke out on Monday, 14 September 2026, shortly before 16:00, in the Elani area, on the Kassandra peninsula, within the Regional Unit of Chalkidiki. According to the latest update from the Fire Service, the fire remained active around 16:15, with forces engaged in intensive efforts to contain it before it spreads to a wider area. At the scene, 38 firefighters, two ground teams from the 2nd Special Unit of Forest Operations (EMODE) and 11 vehicles are operating, while in the air six aircraft and one helicopter, seven aerial units in total, are dropping water on the fire’s front. Municipal water tankers from the Municipality of Kassandra are also contributing to extinguishing efforts, assisting the Fire Service in attempting to contain the fire before it spreads further into the pine forests of the area. The scale of the mobilization, with seven aerial units for a single fire, reflects the intensity with which the Fire Service responded to the incident from the outset.

Shortly before the fire’s full outbreak, around 15:45 to 15:50, the 112 emergency number sent a precautionary message to residents and holiday-makers in the wider area. The message stated: “Forest fire in the Elani area of the Regional Unit of Chalkidiki. Remain in readiness and follow the instructions of the Authorities.” It was a preparedness message and not an evacuation order, with authorities calling on people to monitor developments and be ready to respond to any further instructions, without however providing any specific direction of movement. By the time of writing, no further 112 message had been issued for the area, while the competent services continued to closely monitor the progress of the fire front and assess whether further updates to residents would be necessary.

Kassandra is the westernmost of the three peninsulas of Chalkidiki and one of the most densely touristic destinations in northern Greece, with extensive pine forests that extend to the settlements and holiday areas of the prefecture. The fire in Elani today comes a few days after the incident in Scala Aristoteli in Chalkidiki on 12 September, reminding that the fire prevention season in the country extends until late October and that the risk of fire remains high even in late summer, particularly in areas with dense forest vegetation close to settlements. The weather conditions on Monday, with a drop in temperature and rain in other parts of the country, do not appear to have affected conditions in Chalkidiki, where extinguishing efforts continue in difficult forest terrain and under conditions requiring coordinated ground and aerial effort.

By the latest update, no evacuation of homes or settlements had been reported, nor had any threat to buildings in the Elani area been recorded. Wind speeds and direction have not been officially determined in the reports so far, while the cause of the fire remains unknown. An investigative team from ESKTA was activated to investigate the causes of the incident. In the area, a drone equipped with thermal and optical cameras is operating, monitoring the front and informing forces of its progress in real time. According to the Fire Service, the situation remained active at the latest update, with forces continuing efforts toward complete extinguishing. Further details on the burnt area, any damage or the progress of operations are expected in subsequent announcements from the Fire Service and Civil Protection authorities, which will also determine the full picture of the incident as night falls.