A 70-year-old French national has been arrested in connection with a wildfire that broke out on Monday in the Loutraki area of Greece, after authorities said he had been carrying out agricultural work without the required fire safety precautions.
A team from the Fire Brigade’s Special Investigation Unit (DAEE) arrived at the scene and proceeded with the arrest as part of the investigation into the cause of the fire.
The wildfire, which started in a forested area near Perachora, Loutraki, was brought under control following a major firefighting operation involving both ground and aerial forces.
According to the Fire Brigade, the quick response prevented the blaze from spreading further, despite the difficult terrain of the area. No homes or infrastructure were ultimately reported to have been threatened.
Large firefighting operation
The operation involved 106 firefighters, five specialized forest firefighting teams, 30 fire engines and numerous volunteers.
From the air, three firefighting aircraft and five helicopters took part, with one helicopter used for aerial coordination. Water trucks and construction equipment from the regions of Attica and the Peloponnese also supported the effort.
Authorities also monitored the situation through drone footage using optical and thermal cameras, allowing continuous assessment of the fire’s development.
Mayor says no homes were damaged
Loutraki Mayor George Gkionis said the fire had been contained and that there were no reports of homes being damaged.
“We believe everything will go well with the Fire Brigade’s operation to extinguish the fire,” he said, adding that “there is no report so far of any burned house.”
Emergency measures activated
Because of the fire’s proximity to a settlement near Lake Vouliagmeni, Greece’s emergency alert system 112 was activated as a precaution.
Firefighters also created firebreaks to protect nearby residential areas, while teams continued working in difficult forest locations where access by road was limited.
Fire officials said aerial resources played a crucial role in reducing the fire’s intensity, allowing ground crews to continue efforts to fully contain the blaze.
