Central Macedonia Hardest Hit by Record Spike in Wildfires

Greek firefighters responded to 51 rural and forest fires across the country over the past 24 hours, with Central Macedonia experiencing the highest concentration of incidents and placing significant pressure on emergency services. The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection said the unusually high number of fires in the region has raised serious concern, noting that some blazes have already been brought under control while others remain active. Authorities warned that multiple simultaneous fires require constant vigilance and rapid coordination to prevent them from escalating into major emergencies.

The ministry added that the large number of concurrent incidents has forced firefighting resources to be divided across several locations, making rapid containment even more critical. One of the most challenging operations took place in Derveni, Oreokastro, near Thessaloniki, where firefighters tackled one of the most difficult blazes of the day. The operation involved 120 firefighters, four specialised ground crews, 33 fire engines, volunteers, municipal water tankers and heavy machinery.

Aerial support included seven firefighting aircraft and three helicopters, while two drones monitored the fire from the outset. The response also received international assistance, with 12 firefighters and three vehicles from Moldova deployed under the European Union’s pre-positioning programme.Advertising1 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Firefighters are also battling another wildfire that broke out shortly before 10:00pm in a forested area near the Livadicommunity in Thessaloniki. The response includes 46 firefighters, three specialised ground teams from the 2nd EMODE unit, volunteers and 11 fire engines.

Authorities said the fire remains away from homes and critical infrastructure. An arson investigation unit has launched an inquiry into the cause of the Livadi wildfire. The ministry warned that the combination of high temperatures, dry vegetation, strong winds and human negligence has significantly increased the risk of extreme wildfires, adding that even a small ignition can rapidly develop into a major incident.

Officials urged the public to exercise extreme caution and avoid any activity that could spark a fire. Advertising1 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The post Central Macedonia Hardest Hit by Record Spike in Wildfires …