Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas has warned that severe drought and rising winds create dangerous wildfire conditions across multiple regions.
Speaking on radio station SKAI 100.3, Tournas stated that the fire season is far from over, warning that conditions are extremely hazardous as late August vegetation has dried out following weeks of high temperatures across Greece.
Tournas cautioned that the coming days would be difficult and described the current situation as dynamite, urging citizens to avoid any work or activity that could trigger even a single spark.
Concerns are growing as northeasterly winds are forecast to intensify over the Aegean Sea, affecting Eastern Boeotia, Evia, Attica, the Eastern Peloponnese, and surrounding islands. At the same time, strong westerly and northwesterly winds in the Ionian Sea, which separates western Greece from Italy, are expected to heighten the threat further.
Wildfire statistics in August
Data presented by Tournas illustrated the heavy operational pressure placed on Greece's civil protection mechanism throughout the summer. Since the start of the fire season, authorities have recorded 3,083 wildfires, including 830 blazes in August alone.
Despite the high number of incidents, the minister noted that total wildfires are down by approximately 20 percent compared to previous years.
Tournas highlighted the major blazes of the season and the challenging conditions faced by ground crews and aerial firefighting units. He paid special tribute to two firefighters who lost their lives in Rethymno on the island of Crete, describing their deaths as a heavy blow to the Fire Service and national civil protection efforts.
Greece, located in southeastern Europe, routinely faces heightened wildfire risks during hot, dry summer months. Strong seasonal winds and high temperatures frequently combine with dry brush to transform small ignitions into destructive blazes across mainland regions and islands.
Equipment upgrades and fire prevention
To strengthen emergency response capabilities, Tournas announced that Greece expects to receive the first two of eight newly ordered Super Puma heavy-duty helicopters in the autumn of 2026. The aircraft, designed for heavy aerial firefighting and transport operations, are scheduled to become fully operational the following year.
The government's long-term prevention strategy also includes installing 22 early fire detection systems at major archaeological sites across the country, aimed at protecting historic cultural monuments from seasonal fire threats.
Authorities reiterated that the fire risk remains exceptionally high in the coming days, cautioning that with bone-dry vegetation and intensifying winds, even a single careless action could spark a major fire.
