Wildfires in Phthiotis, Drama and Arcadia

Three separate wildfires in farmland and forest areas kept the Fire Service busy on Friday, August 14, on a day of strong winds and extreme fire risk across most of the country. The first broke out shortly after 14:00 in the Vathykoilo area of Pelasgia, in eastern Phthiotis. According to an official Fire Service post, 34 firefighters, a ground unit team from the 10th Special Firefighting Force (EMODE), nine vehicles and five aircraft responded. Vehicles from the Stylida Fire Brigade took part in the effort, with reinforcements from Lamia, along with water tankers from local authorities. Winds made it difficult to contain the fire front. The simultaneous outbreak of fires in three regions far apart forced the mechanism to distribute aerial resources across long distances within a few hours.

The second fire broke out in low vegetation in the Agora area of Drama and was brought under control. The firefighting effort involved 18 firefighters, a ground unit team from the 7th EMODE, five vehicles and a helicopter, with the assistance of water tankers from the Municipality of Doxato. The wider area was under high, category 3 fire risk. The Kavala Arson Investigation Unit was mobilised to investigate the causes, a procedure followed when the circumstances of the outbreak require special examination. The arson unit examines the point of origin, any witnesses and physical remains, to determine whether the fire was due to negligence, a natural cause or intent.

The third fire broke out on the Tripoli–Pelagos provincial road in Arcadia and was also brought under control. Twenty-two firefighters operated with nine vehicles and two helicopters, assisted by local-authority water tankers, the Hellenic Air Force and the Arcadia Hellenic Rescue Team with ten volunteers. Several hectares of low vegetation burned, without threatening homes, residents, forest land or businesses. Earlier the same day, at 13:05, a second fire from tyres had broken out on agricultural land at the Tripoli Industrial Area. Forces remained on standby for flare-ups. The Tripoli Industrial Area has in the past also recorded fires in piles of tyres and other waste, which produce thick smoke and require special firefighting technique.

In all three cases, the rapid deployment of significant forces in the first minutes proved decisive in limiting the extent of the fires. The tactic of overwhelming response, that is, sending disproportionately large forces to every report on high-risk days, has become established in the Fire Service’s operational planning in recent years. Its cost is high, but it is considered lower than that of a fire that gets out of control. The causes of the three fires remain unknown. More on the Fires page. None of the three fires required a 112 evacuation alert for residents, indicating that the fire fronts were contained before reaching settlements.