Greek Fire Service arrests two suspects for negligence‑caused wildfires in Evros and Grevena
On 24 July 2026 two separate fires broke out in northern Greece – one at Le‑fki mi, Evros at 14:33 and another in Grevena at 13:53. Both were quickly contained after the Greek Fire Service’s Investigative Unit (Α.Κ.Α.Ε.Ε.) mobilised its teams.
A 19‑year‑old Canadian citizen was arrested in Evros after his vehicle lost tyre pressure, overheated and ignited dry grass. In Grevena a 69‑year‑old local was detained for starting a blaze while burning a pile of vegetation. Both arrests were made under the auto‑ex parte procedure.
The authorities reported that from 1 January to 24 July 2026 they issued 608 administrative fines totalling €858 177.11 and made 221 auto‑ex parte arrests for fire offences. Of those, 195 (88.24 %) involved negligence‑caused fires and 26 (11.76 %) intentional arson. The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection noted that “human negligence accounts for about 88 % of this year’s fires.”
Entities: 19‑year‑old Canadian suspect · 69‑year‑old local suspect · Evros region · Greek Fire Service (Πυροσβεστική) · Grevena region
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection stated that human negligence accounts for about 88 % of this year’s fires.
- [● 8 SOURCES] Two individuals were arrested for causing fires by negligence in Evros and Grevena on 24 July 2026.
- [● 8 SOURCES] From 1 January to 24 July 2026 the Greek Fire Service issued 608 administrative fines totalling €858 177.11 and made 221 auto‑ex parte arrests for fire offences.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The fire in Le‑fki mi, Evros started at 14:33 on Friday, 24 July 2026.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The suspect in Grevena was a 69‑year‑old local who caused a fire while burning a pile of vegetation at 13:53.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The suspect in Evros was a 19‑year‑old Canadian citizen whose vehicle tyre lost pressure, overheated and ignited dry grass.
- [● 8 SOURCES] Of the 221 arrests, 195 (88.24 %) involved negligence‑caused fires and 26 (11.76 %) involved intentional arson.