The toll from Greece’s wildfires turned tragic on Wednesday, July 29, as three firefighters lost their lives and three others were injured, while the prefecture of Rethymno on the island of Crete continued to battle an out-of-control blaze.
Two firefighters were killed on the Krya Vrysi fire front in Rethymno after the vehicle they were traveling in became trapped by the flames. A third firefighter died in Gytheio, outside the wildfire perimeter. Despite efforts by emergency responders and doctors at Sparta General Hospital, where he was taken, he never regained consciousness. Greece’s political and state leadership issued messages of condolence.
Two additional firefighters suffered minor burns while battling the wildfire in Agia Triada, Sitia, on Crete, while another firefighter broke his leg during firefighting operations in Plomari, on the island of Lesbos.
Rethymno Fire Remains Out of Control
The wildfire at Krya Vrysi in Rethymno continues to burn unchecked, fueled by strong winds, with estimates putting the fire front at up to 20 kilometers long.
According to an update from Greece’s national news agency, citing the Fire Service’s Operations Coordination Center, 45 fire engines from fire stations across Crete are currently deployed.
The operation also includes 10 specialized wildfire response teams from the Fire Service’s 3rd and 19th Forest Firefighting Units (EMODE), along with additional ground crews from other Fire Service divisions.
More than 160 firefighters are spread across the various wildfire fronts.
Firefighters are being assisted by water tankers and heavy machinery provided by the Civil Protection agency, the Region of Crete, and local municipalities in the Rethymno regional unit.
Volunteers and residents from the affected communities and villages in Agios Vasileios are also playing a significant role in the firefighting effort.
Authorities have repeatedly ordered the evacuation of nearby communities through emergency 112 alerts.
Because of the powerful winds, aerial firefighting aircraft were withdrawn early in the day for the safety of their crews, a decision that also allowed the fire to spread further.
Given the extreme conditions, the Hellenic Coast Guard was called in to evacuate residents who had become trapped and had no other escape route.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue battling flare-ups in Krya Vrysi, Orne, and Agia Galini. Late Wednesday, Greece’s Civil Protection agency also issued a 112 alert ordering residents of the villages of Goudoura and Asprolithos, in the regional unit of Lasithi, to evacuate toward Makry Gialos, underscoring that bringing the fires under control remains a difficult challenge.
Lesbos Battles Flare-Ups
Firefighters worked through the night to contain the wildfire near Plomari on the island of Lesbos, preventing it from spreading into unburned areas despite strong winds and repeated flare-ups. More than 50 firefighters, specialized ground crews and volunteers remained on the fire line, while helicopters resumed precision water drops at first light. Officials said there are no active fire fronts, only small, controlled hotspots, but warned that strengthening northerly winds later in the day could trigger new flare-ups. Authorities said residents who were evacuated as a precaution have been allowed to return, although firefighting operations remain ongoing.
Other Fire Fronts
The wildfire on Paros, which burned throughout the night, no longer has an active front. However, authorities remain on high alert because of strong winds, with large firefighting forces monitoring the area for possible flare-ups.
The wildfire in Gytheio has been largely contained since late Wednesday afternoon, although strong winds continue to keep firefighting crews on alert.
On Wednesday evening, firefighters were also called to a blaze that broke out in the yard of a recycling plant in Patima, in the municipality of Markopoulo, east of Athens.
Between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 6 p.m. Wednesday, the Fire Service responded to 37 wildfires in agricultural and forest areas across Greece. Thirty of them were brought under control quickly.
Very High Fire Risk Continues
Dangerous conditions are expected to continue on Thursday.
According to Greece’s Civil Protection daily fire risk map, a very high wildfire risk (Level 4) has been declared for Attica, Kythira, Evia, Skyros, Boeotia, Corinthia, Argolis, Laconia, Crete, the Cyclades, Lesbos, Chios, Psara, Samos, Ikaria, Phthiotis, Phocis, and Arcadia.
A high wildfire risk also remains in many other parts of mainland and island Greece.
