A wildfire broke out shortly after midnight in the area of Ligiades, near the city of Ioannina in northwestern Greece, triggering fears among residents as flames approached the village before firefighters managed to bring the situation under control.

According to the Greek Fire Service, 21 fire trucks with 35 firefighters and 10 members of a ground crew were deployed from the Ioannina fire department. Local municipal and regional authorities also supported the effort with three water tankers from civil protection services. Police were present to manage traffic and assist with emergency coordination.

Forest Fire Sparked Near Residential Area

The blaze, which began near the old national highway outside Ioannina, spread quickly through forestland and came dangerously close to the village of Ligiades. Though the fire was eventually contained after more than two hours, the threat it posed caused significant alarm among local residents.

“There were moments of real fear,” local media reported, as villagers watched flames advance toward inhabited areas. Fortunately, evacuation was not required, and no casualties were reported.

Despite containment of the main front, firefighting units remain in the area due to numerous scattered hotspots that continue to burn. Crews are working to fully extinguish the fire and prevent any flare-ups.

Local President Issues Sharp Criticism

In a strongly worded statement, the president of the Ligiades community, Konstantinos Foukas, condemned what he described as repeated failures by the authorities to implement fire prevention measures despite formal requests.

“Despite repeated appeals, documents, and warnings to the relevant authorities, the desperate calls of the local community were ignored,” Foukas said. “Ligiades came within a breath of disaster, with flames reaching dangerously close to inhabited areas.”

He added that all related documents, requests, and correspondence will be submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office as well as to oversight bodies such as the Ombudsman, the National Transparency Authority, and the General Secretariat for Civil Protection. He also mentioned the possibility of seeking parliamentary intervention through the Hellenic Parliament’s Petitions Committee.

“The legal route is now the only option. Those responsible must be held accountable for their omissions,” the statement concluded. “The local community, residents, and supporters of Ligiades will not stand by and allow future tragedies due to negligence or indifference.”