Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis activates Red Code for very high fire risk across 13 regions

Red Code fire risk Category 4 Greece civil protection

The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection placed the National Civil Protection Mechanism in Red Code (full mobilisation) on Thursday 30 July 2026, after the daily fire‑risk map forecast a very high fire‑risk level (Category 4) for large parts of the country. The areas placed under Red Code include Attica (including the island of Kythera), Crete, the Peloponnese units of Corinth, Argolis, Arkadia and Laconia, the Central Greece units of Boeotia, Phthiotis, Phocis and Evia (including Skyros), the North Aegean units of Lesbos, Chios, Samos and Ikaria, and the South Aegean unit of the Cyclades.

The General Secretariat of Civil Protection has ordered all relevant services, municipalities and regional authorities to convene their local and regional operational coordination bodies and to raise operational readiness, including the deployment of additional aerial surveillance and patrols. Citizens are urged to avoid any outdoor activity that could start a fire – such as burning dry grass, using spark‑producing tools, barbecues, smoking or discarding cigarettes – and to report any fire immediately to the fire service at 199 or the European emergency number 112. The fire‑risk map is issued daily from 1 May to 31 Oct during the fire season to guide preventive measures and ensure rapid response.

Entities: Attica Region · Crete Region · Cyclades · Fire‑Risk Map · General Secretariat of Civil Protection · General Secretariat of Civil Protection (Greece) · Greek Fire Service · Iolaos 2 Emergency Plan · Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection · Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (Greece) · Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction (Greece) · National Civil Protection Mechanism

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What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] A high‑risk level (category 3) is also forecast for several additional mainland and island areas. (d3bdf47a-136d-476e-a066-5b5d11992477,68049976-ee16-4092-9c76-9798ae7ab857)
[● 4 SOURCES] The fire‑risk map is issued daily from 1 May to 31 Oct during the fire season. (existing)
[● 20 SOURCES] Very high fire risk (category 4) was forecast for Attica, Crete, Peloponnese, Central Greece, North Aegean and South Aegean on 30 July 2026. (Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, fire‑risk map)
[● 23 SOURCES] Citizens are advised to avoid outdoor activities that could cause fires, such as burning dry grass, using spark‑producing tools, barbecues, smoking and discarding cigarettes. (multiple)
[● 20 SOURCES] Citizens are instructed to report fires immediately to the fire service via the numbers 199 or the European emergency number 112. (Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection)
[● 12 SOURCES] The daily fire‑risk map is issued from 1 May to 31 Oct during the fire season. (General Secretariat of Civil Protection)
[● 4 SOURCES] The fire‑risk map is part of the Iolaos 2 Emergency Plan for forest‑fire response. (Greek Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection)
[● 12 SOURCES] The Greek Fire Service entered the second stage of operational readiness, increasing aerial surveillance and patrols. (Greek Fire Service)
[● 12 SOURCES] Aerial patrols and surveillance have been increased in the high‑risk areas. (Greek Fire Service)
[● 21 SOURCES] Red Code mobilisation of the National Civil Protection Mechanism was activated for the high‑risk regions. (existing)
[● 2 SOURCES] A high fire‑risk alert (category 3) was forecast for the Evros region and Samothrace. (General Secretariat of Civil Protection fire‑risk map)
[● 8 SOURCES] Greece’s Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection placed eight regions under Red Code, indicating a very high fire‑risk level (category 4) for July 30‑31 2026.