Authorities on the Greek island of Chios have arrested a domestic worker in connection with one of the five wildfires that ravaged the island in recent days. The woman, approximately 35 years old and of Georgian origin, reportedly admitted to unintentionally starting a fire after discarding a lit cigarette on the roadside.
According to officials, the woman was detained and confessed to her actions, which are believed to have contributed to one of the active fire fronts during the peak of the crisis. She now faces charges of negligent arson.
A firefighter carries a hose as a wildfire burns on Chios island, Greece, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Konstantinos Anagnostou
Fire Now Subdued but Concerns Remain
The wildfire, which began on Sunday afternoon, scorched an estimated 6,500 hectares (65,000 stremmata) of forestland, low vegetation, and farmland before gradually coming under control by Wednesday. While the scale of destruction is significant, local authorities noted that damage to the island’s unique mastic crops — a globally renowned product of southern Chios — was fortunately minimal.
Throughout Tuesday night, firefighters and volunteers fought persistent flare-ups in the rugged terrain near the area of Kampi, just beyond the village of Agios Georgios Sykousis. Their efforts successfully prevented the fire from crossing into the region of Kontylopo, a development that may have spared southern Chios from potentially catastrophic losses to its mastic-producing zones.
Aerial Support at First Light
With daylight on Wednesday, firefighting aircraft resumed water drops over remaining hotspots, targeting the complete extinguishment of the blaze and minimizing the risk of re-ignition.
A firefighting helicopter drops water to extinguish fire at the area of Kontylopos on Chios island, Greece, June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kostas Anagnostou
Despite growing optimism and the visible decline in fire activity, emergency services remain on high alert. Authorities have warned that changing weather conditions and the wildfire’s unpredictable behavior earlier in the week demand continued vigilance.
The Chios fire is part of a growing number of wildfire incidents affecting various regions of Greece each summer, often fueled by dry conditions, high winds, and human negligence.
