Exclusive video footage published by Ta Nea appears to show a 57-year-old woman deliberately setting fire to dry vegetation in the Isthmia region near the southern city of Corinth on Sunday, triggering a small wildfire on a day when much of Greece was under a very high fire risk warning.
The footage, recorded frame by frame, shows the woman walking with her dog before stopping beside dry grass and appearing to use an open flame, believed to be from a lighter or matches. Within seconds, flames can be seen spreading through the vegetation.
The wildfire was quickly spotted by residents of a nearby home, who immediately alerted the fire brigade, helping contain the blaze before it could spread further. Authorities said the prompt response prevented what could have become a far more serious incident.
Officers from the fire brigade’s arson crimes unit swiftly identified and arrested the woman on suspicion of intentional arson.
According to local media reports, the suspect gave investigators several differing explanations for her presence at the scene.
She initially claimed she had stopped to look for a lost wireless earbud, later said she was removing a thorn from her dog’s paw and subsequently claimed she was checking the animal for a tick. Authorities are examining the statements, and she is expected to appear before a prosecutor.
Local media also reported that the woman had been a one-time parliament candidate with an opposition party in the 2019 and 2023 national elections and allegedly told officers during her arrest that she intended to run again in the next election.
The case is being treated with particular seriousness because the fire broke out on a day classified as presenting a “very high” wildfire risk (Level 4), amid prolonged drought and strong winds. Under Greek law, prosecutors may pursue felony charges when a fire is deliberately set under conditions posing a significant threat to forests, property or human life.
The arrest comes as Greek authorities continue an intensified crackdown on wildfire-related offenses during the peak fire season. Over the past week, officials have repeatedly warned that even small ignition sources can rapidly develop into major wildfires because of persistent heat, dry vegetation and strong winds. Fire brigade commanders have stressed that both negligent and deliberate fire-setting will be prosecuted aggressively, while authorities have increased patrols and inspections across high-risk regions.
Official figures underscore the tougher enforcement approach. During the first half of 2026, authorities imposed 489 administrative fines totaling roughly 500,000 euros and made 134 arrests under Greece’s expedited judicial procedure. Of those, 125 cases involved fires allegedly caused by negligence, while nine are being investigated as suspected intentional arson.
The latest arrest follows several high-profile prosecutions over the past year. On the eastern Aegean island of Chios, a woman was remanded in custody after allegedly discarding a lit cigarette on a Level 4 wildfire risk day, sparking a wildfire in a forested area. In another case, two men were detained after a wildfire near Feneos, in the northeastern Peloponnese, was allegedly caused during metal-cutting work with a grinder, leading to extensive damage.
