The Fire Service has confirmed that two firefighters were killed in a large wildfire that broke out Wednesday afternoon in the regional unit of Rethymno, on the island of Crete. The confirmation came in an official statement Wednesday, following earlier unconfirmed reports from the local news outlet Cretalive.
The Fire Service statement did not specify how the two firefighters died, saying only that they lost their lives during firefighting operations. Cretalive’s earlier report had cited information that the victims were trapped inside their vehicle as flames closed in.
Fire Service statement
In its statement, the Fire Service called Wednesday “an extremely difficult day” for the service, saying the two firefighters died during operations to contain a wildfire in agricultural and forest land near Kria Vrysi, in Rethymno. The statement said the two “fell heroically in the line of duty, safeguarding the lives and property of citizens as well as the natural environment,” and it extended condolences from the service’s leadership to the families and loved ones of the two firefighters. It closed by saying “our thoughts are with them.”
How the fire started
The blaze ignited earlier Wednesday in low vegetation near Kria Vrysi, a village in the Agios Vasileios municipality of southern Rethymno, Cretalive reported. Fueled by strong winds gusting up to 7 on the Beaufort scale, the fire quickly spread and remained active and uncontained as of Wednesday afternoon.
Evacuation alerts
Greece’s 112 emergency alert system, the country’s cell broadcast network for natural disasters and public safety threats, issued three separate activations Wednesday. The first told residents near Kria Vrysi, in the regional unit of Rethymno, to move toward the city of Rethymno. A second alert covered the villages of Sachtouria and Melampes, instructing residents to head to Agia Galini, a coastal town further south. A third covered Agios Georgios and Agios Pavlos, directing residents to reach Agia Galini via the coastal road known as Paraliaki Agiovasiliotikou.
⚠️ Activation 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣
🆘 Wildfire in #Agios_Georgios and #Agios_Pavlos of the regional unit of #Rethymno
‼️ If you are in the areas, move away via coastal road (Agiovasiliotiko) to #Agia_Galini
‼️ Follow the instructions of the Authorities
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 29, 2026
⚠️ Activation 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣
🆘 Wildfire in the areas of #Saktouria and #Melabes of the regional unit of #Rethymno
‼️ If you are in the areas of #Saktouria and #Melabes, move away to #Agia_Galini
‼️ Follow the instructions of the Authorities
ℹ️ https://t.co/epZaj71grH @pyrosvestiki…
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 29, 2026
⚠️Activation 1⃣1⃣2⃣
🆘 Wildfire in #Kria_Vrisi of the regional unit of #Rethymno
‼️ If you are in the area, move away to #Rethymno
‼️ Follow the instructions of the Authorities
ℹ️ https://t.co/epZaj71grH@pyrosvestiki@hellenicpolice
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 29, 2026
Firefighting response
More than 125 firefighters are deployed to the area, Cretalive reported, supported by 27 fire engines and six ground crews from the 3rd and 19th Special Firefighting Forces units, known in Greece by the acronym EMODE. These units specialize in fighting fires in difficult terrain.
Aerial support included four firefighting helicopters and four fixed wing aircraft, operating in rotation over the fire zone. Water tankers and heavy machinery from the Municipality of Agios Vasileios were also assisting ground crews.
Throughout the operation, Greece’s National Coordination Center for Operations and Crisis Management, has been monitoring the fire’s progress using drones equipped with thermal and optical cameras, allowing officials to track the blaze in real time and coordinate ground and air units.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire remained active and had not been contained.
This article will be updated as verified information becomes available from Greek fire and civil protection authorities.
