Μake us preferred on Google A major wildfire continues to burn across southern Rethymno on the island of Crete, where hundreds of firefighters are battling multiple active fronts under extremely challenging conditions.
According to Greece’s Fire Service Operations Coordination Center, the combination of strong winds, difficult terrain, and the area’s rugged landscape continues to hamper firefighting efforts. On Friday, aerial firefighting aircraft were unable to operate because of the severe winds, leaving ground crews to tackle repeated flare-ups without air support.
A wildfire burns near Asomatos, creating a new fire front in the Kourtaliotiko Gorge area of Rethymno, Crete, on Thursday, July 30, 2026.(ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΤΗΣ/ EUROKINISSI)
Officials said conditions have improved compared with Thursday, but the operation remains fully underway as firefighters continue working to contain active hotspots.
Firefighters Focus on Flare-Ups
Fire crews remain deployed around Krya Vrysi, southern parts of the Agios Vasileios municipality, the Preveli area, and Asomatos, where some of the most persistent flare-ups continue to threaten further spread.
Ground crews and specialized forest firefighting units (EMODE) have been reinforced by mobile firefighting teams from mainland Greece as they work to contain scattered fire fronts despite powerful winds.
Flames and smoke rise as a wildfire burns near the beach of Triopetra on the island of Crete, Greece, July 30, 2026. REUTERS/Stefanos Rapanis
Residents and volunteers are assisting the operation, while water tankers and heavy machinery provided by the municipalities of Agios Vasileios, Amari, Rethymno, and southern municipalities of Heraklion continue supporting firefighting efforts.
Firefighters battled throughout the night to keep the flames under control, focusing primarily on the Agia Paraskevi front to prevent the fire from reaching homes. Authorities said the strongest firefighting effort is now concentrated around Krya Vrysi and Asomatos, where crews are working to prevent new flare-ups from expanding.
The Fire Service said ground forces will remain on heightened alert until every active fire front has been fully contained.
A wildfire burns in the Rethymno region on the island of Crete, Greece, on Thursday, July 30, 2026.(ΣΥΝΕΡΓΑΤΗΣ / EUROKINISSI)
Strong Winds Continue to Complicate Operations
Conditions remain particularly difficult across southern Rethymno, where firefighters have spent days battling the wildfire under severe weather conditions.
Strong winds, which at times reached 12 Beaufort, have significantly complicated firefighting operations, repeatedly reigniting hotspots and preventing firefighting aircraft from joining Friday’s operation.
More than 270 firefighters are currently deployed across Rethymno and Sitia, with the majority operating in southern Rethymno, where multiple fire fronts on July 29 and 30 caused extensive destruction.
Ground and aerial firefighting crews battle a wildfire burning through dry grass and waste near the former landfill in Plomari on the island of Lesbos, Greece, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (PANAGIOTIS BALASKAS / EUROKINISSI)
Large areas of land have burned. According to Sentinel-2 satellite imagery analyzed by the National Observatory of Athens through the Copernicus program, approximately 45,000 stremmas (about 11,100 acres) have been affected so far. The estimate does not yet include land burned by the newer wildfire in the wider Preveli area.
Meanwhile, investigators from local Fire Service arson investigation units, a specialized team dispatched from Athens, and the Hellenic Police continue to examine the cause of the wildfire, which is believed to have started near Krya Vrysi.
Elsewhere across Crete, several smaller fires have broken out in different locations. According to the Operations Coordination Center, all were brought under control quickly without requiring prolonged firefighting operations.
Ground and aerial firefighting crews battle a wildfire burning through dry grass and waste near the former landfill in Plomari on the island of Lesbos, Greece, on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (PANAGIOTIS BALASKAS / EUROKINISSI)
Paros Fire Still Active
On the island of Paros, no new major flare-ups have been reported outside the existing fire perimeter, according to Greece’s national news agency.
The wildfire remains active, however, with hotspots continuing to burn within the fire’s perimeter, requiring the constant presence and operational readiness of firefighting crews.
A satellite image shows a closer view of the island of Paros, Greece, July 30, 2026, after wildfires hit the island. European Union/Copernicus Sentinel-2/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT
Firefighting resources on the three affected Aegean islands remain unchanged from the previous day. Kalymnos has 22 firefighters, one ground crew, and six fire engines. Andros has 25 firefighters, two ground crews, and five fire engines. Paros has 62 firefighters, two ground crews, and 10 fire engines.
Authorities remain on heightened alert, particularly on Paros, where weather conditions continue to complicate efforts to fully contain the fire and increase the risk of new flare-ups.
Situation Improves on Andros and Kalymnos
The wildfire situation on Andros and Kalymnos has improved considerably over the past 24 hours.
According to the latest update from the Fire Service’s Unified Operations Coordination Center, authorities no longer have significant concerns about the progression of the fires on either island.
Operations continue on Paros, however, where strong winds are still making containment efforts difficult as firefighters work to prevent the blaze from spreading further.
New Wildfires Break Out in Western Greece
A new wildfire has broken out in a forested area near Archontochori, in the municipality of Xiromero, in the regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania.
The fire is being tackled by 35 firefighters, one ground crew, and 14 fire engines.
Another wildfire erupted in Achaia, prompting authorities to issue a 112 emergency alert at around 5 a.m. to residents of the Floka area in the municipality of West Achaia, urging them to evacuate immediately toward the nearby community of Arla.
The response includes 50 firefighters, three ground crews, and 14 fire engines, assisted by municipal water tankers.
