Fire in Greece extinguished, yet risk persists
In the summer of 2025, Greece has been battling wildfires that have ravaged various regions, including Athens, the Peloponnese peninsula, and other islands. These fires have led to extensive investigations focusing on the causes, suspicious activities, and arrests.
Human factors are at the heart of these investigations, with over 310 arrests made related to wildfires this season. The Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE) alone has arrested 50 individuals, marking a sharp increase compared to previous years. Arrests are for both intentional arson and negligence, with negligence-related arrests surpassing those for deliberate arson in 2025.
The causes identified include arson, careless outdoor fires, discarded cigarettes, sparks from agricultural machinery, abandoned campfires, and electrical short circuits, all exacerbated by severe drought and strong winds across multiple Greek regions. The Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection continues to emphasize that about seven out of ten fires result from human actions, mostly negligence.
One such incident occurred in southeastern Athens, where indications suggest the fire was started by a faulty power cable. A gas cylinder was found at the scene, adding to the suspicions. Two technicians from the state-owned power grid operator (HEDNO) were provisionally arrested in connection with this fire, believed to have been caused by their negligence in maintaining the power line.
The fires remain severe, with dozens of simultaneous active blazes across regions including Kefalonia, Attica, Peloponnese, and parts of western and northern Greece. This has led to evacuations and a high fire risk alert. Firefighting efforts involve hundreds of personnel and extensive aerial support, but the human element in fire ignition remains critical to controlling the crisis.
Despite the efforts, the risk of more fires remains high due to persistent drought and strong winds. The mayor of a town near Athens suspects arson as the cause of the fires, adding to the ongoing investigations.
Tragically, a man died on Friday when his isolated house was surrounded by flames. Dozens of houses were destroyed, and numerous animals perished in the fires. Greek media reported that firefighters had the situation under control by Sunday, but the risk of new fires remains extremely high in the Athens region and on the island of Euboea.
Firefighters and civil defense authorities have issued a fire risk warning for Sunday, August 10, 2025. The fire risk warning indicates an extreme risk of 5 in Attica and near Boeotia and Euboea. There are also very high and high risk levels in the rest of the island regions and in several areas of the mainland.
Investigations are ongoing into the causes of the fires, with suspicion of negligence in some cases. The 2025 Greek wildfires are driven by a combination of intentional arson and widespread negligence amid severe drought conditions, and law enforcement is intensifying operations to identify and prosecute those responsible for fire outbreaks in the affected regions.
- The combination of severe drought conditions, intentional arson, and widespread negligence is driving the 2025 Greek wildfires.
- The Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE) has arrested 50 individuals this season in relation to the wildfires, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.
- Despite the efforts of firefighters, the risk of more fires remains extremely high due to persistent drought and strong winds, with investigations ongoing into the causes of the fires and suspicions of negligence in some cases.
- The ongoing wildfires have affected various regions, including Athens, the Peloponnese peninsula, and other islands, leading to evacuations and high fire risk alerts, as well as causing tragic losses of life, houses, and animals.
