Greek authorities arrest four for illegal grilling near forested areas in Attica

Four individuals were detained by the Greek Fire Service's arson crime units for violating fire‑prevention laws in the Attica region. A 33‑year‑old was arrested in Rafina after using a portable grill within 300 m of a forested zone on a day with a fire‑danger rating of 4. A 59‑year‑old was caught in Ilion for lighting a charcoal grill near the Antonis Tritsis park under the same high‑risk conditions. In Chalkidiki, a 66‑year‑old was charged after hot‑work with a metal‑cutting wheel ignited a fire that burned about six stremmata of cultivated land, receiving a €1,687.50 fine. In Nea Kifisia, a 49‑year‑old Polish national was arrested for using a torch to insulate a roof within 30 m of forest vegetation, also fined €3,000. All suspects were taken to the Athens public prosecutor’s office and fined €3,000 each, except the Chalkidiki case. The fire service reported 30 forest‑fire incidents in the previous 24 hours and noted that, since 1 January, 655 administrative fines totalling roughly €993,034 have been issued for similar violations.