Fires in Patras and Lesbos on Saturday

Two major fires occupied the Fire Service forces of the country on Saturday, 5 September 2026, in Patras and Lesbos, on a day when the national fire risk forecast map showed very high risk in several areas. Both fronts mobilised significant forces, ground and air, with extinguishing operations in progress throughout the day. The coincidence of the two simultaneous incidents again highlighted the intensity that prevails in the field during summer, with Fire Service forces called upon to manage parallel fronts at different points in the country. The two extinguishing operations mobilised a substantial number of personnel and resources, demonstrating the degree of readiness required when simultaneous fronts break out in urban and forest environments, with each case presenting different response requirements.

In Patras, fire broke out shortly before 05:00 at a historic winery in the area, with witnesses reporting explosions during the incident. 27 firefighters with 8 vehicles rushed to the scene, while the operation also involved a specialised vehicle with a ladder, together with a foot patrol unit from the 6th Special Forest Operations Unit (EMODE). The escalation of forces deployed indicates the extent and difficulty of fighting the fire within the winery’s building complex. The nature of the facility, with stored materials and tanks, was considered to have hindered the work of firefighters during the initial hours of the operation, while the area around the winery remained cordoned off as long as extinguishing efforts continued.

In Lesbos, a fire broke out in a forested and agricultural area in the Achladeri region, near the Diavolo Stream junction. 25 firefighters with 9 vehicles participated in the extinguishing efforts, reinforced by 2 PZL-type aircraft and 1 fire service helicopter, while water-carrying vehicles from the local municipality played an auxiliary role. The presence of air assets indicates the difficulty of access to the site and the need to reinforce the operation from above, especially on a day with increased risk of fire spread. The Achladeri area is characterised by forested and agricultural vegetation, a factor which, in combination with the day’s weather conditions, required the coordination of ground and air forces to contain the front.

At the time of writing this report, no injuries had been reported in either of the two fires, and the causes of their outbreak had not yet been announced. Authorities had not confirmed whether either of the two fires had been brought under control, as extinguishing operations continued. The two fires fall within a broader framework of increased fire risk that applied nationwide on Saturday, with the responsible services in heightened readiness. Further updates on the progress of both fronts are expected to be released by the Fire Service in the coming hours.