Authorities in Greece have arrested three people over separate incidents linked to wildfires in Argolida, Attica and Rhodope prefectures, as the country faces another period of elevated wildfire danger following a difficult stretch of fires fueled by dry conditions, high temperatures and strong winds.
In Poulakida, near the coastal city of Nafplio, in the northeastern Peloponnese, a local man was arrested over a wildfire that broke out a day earlier. Authorities said he had been burning paper using an open flame inside a metal barrel. He was fined 2,250 euros.
In Perama, west of the port of Piraeus, a 58-year-old man was arrested Wednesday for carrying out cutting-wheel work in a yard close to vegetation on a day when the wildfire danger rating was Category 4, or very high. He was fined 3,000 euros.
In Ampelakia, near the community of Imeros in northeast Rhodope prefecture, a 62-year-old man was arrested over a wildfire that started while he was carrying out agricultural work with a tractor equipped with a brush cutter. The blaze quickly spread after it started.
The three arrests were made under the automatic-arrest procedure following investigations by the fire brigade’s arson units and local investigative services.
The cases come as authorities maintain heightened vigilance after a series of wildfires across Greece in recent days, with extreme heat, prolonged dryness and strong winds contributing to difficult firefighting conditions. Recent fires in Attica and other parts of the country have also highlighted the continuing risk posed by human activity, including agricultural and other outdoor work, during periods of elevated fire danger.
⚠️ 🔔 ΠΡΟΣΟΧΗ: Ακραίος κίνδυνος Πυρκαγιάς 5️⃣ για αύριο Πέμπτη 13/08 σε:
🔴 #Αττική
🔴 #Βοιωτία #Εύβοια
🔴 #Αργολίδα #Κορινθία
🔴 #Λέσβο🔗 https://t.co/TN0UdGq4tS
ℹ️ https://t.co/RFfYoShzB5 pic.twitter.com/lvhlTHuAtL— Civil Protection GR (@CivPro_GR) August 12, 2026
The fire brigade said that from Jan. 1 through Aug. 12, a total of 696 administrative fines had been imposed, amounting to more than one million euros. Authorities had also made 285 arrests under the automatic-arrest procedure, of which 255, or 89.47%, involved negligence and 30, or 10.53%, involved intentional acts.
Greece will remain under heightened wildfire alert Thursday, with five large areas placed in the highest, Category 5 risk level on the daily fire-risk map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection.
The latest warnings come after a period in which authorities repeatedly activated heightened readiness measures as wildfires affected several parts of the country. Strong northeasterly winds have been a particular concern, with gusts exceeding 100 kph recorded in parts of the country during the recent fire outbreaks.
The combination of high temperatures, dry vegetation and strong winds can allow fires to spread rapidly, leaving little time for containment when they start in areas close to settlements or other vulnerable locations. Recent firefighting operations have also included evacuations and the rescue of livestock and other animals from affected areas.
