According to the Wildfire Risk Forecast Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for Thursday, July 2, 2026, large parts of Greece have been placed under Category 3 (High Risk), which is marked in yellow on the official map.
Areas Under High Alert
Authorities are focusing particularly on the traditionally vulnerable region of Attica, parts of Central Greece and the Peloponnese, as well as several island groups.
A Category 3 (High Risk) wildfire warning has been issued for:
- Attica, including the island of Kythira.
- Parts of Central Greece, including Evia, Boeotia, and Phthiotis.
- Much of the Peloponnese, including Corinthia, Argolis, Laconia, Messenia, Elis, and Achaia.
- Western Greece.
- The Ionian Islands, including Zakynthos, Kefalonia, Ithaca, and Lefkada.
- Much of Crete, including the regional units of Chania, Rethymno, and Heraklion.
- Islands in the southeastern Aegean.
Most of the rest of the country falls under Category 2 (Moderate Risk), shown in blue on the map, although authorities remain on heightened alert nationwide.
The “Hidden” Threat: Lightning Strikes
Civil Protection has placed particular emphasis on a warning accompanying the forecast map. Authorities caution that in areas where lightning strikes occur in forests and woodland, the risk of wildfire ignition is exceptionally high.
The warning refers to the phenomenon known as dry thunderstorms, in which intense lightning activity occurs without sufficient rainfall. Such conditions can ignite fires in remote or difficult-to-access areas, making early detection and rapid response by both aerial and ground firefighting crews even more critical.
Advice for the Public
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection is urging the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid any outdoor activity that could accidentally start a fire, including burning dry vegetation, using machinery that produces sparks, discarding lit cigarettes, or operating outdoor barbecues.
Anyone who spots a wildfire is urged to immediately notify the Fire Service by calling 199 or the European emergency number 112.
