Greek fire squads arrest 76‑year‑old and others in negligence‑related blazes

Fire investigators in Greece arrested a 76‑year‑old man in the Amoni district of Korinthia after he illegally extended an outdoor electrical installation, causing a blaze. The same investigative units also detained a 57‑year‑old woman in Korinthia for intentionally setting a fire with a naked flame.

A broader crackdown by the Fire Service’s Crime Investigation Units (A.K.A.E.E.) led to the detention of five more individuals across the country – in Fthiotida, Serres, Eastern Attica and Rhodes – for fires caused by negligence during agricultural or recreational work.

Since 1 January 2026, authorities have issued 486 administrative fines totalling €557.5 million and have recorded 131 arrests in the auto‑flame process, 123 (93.9 %) for negligent fires and eight (6.1 %) for deliberate arson. The Fire Service stresses that the majority of wildfires stem from human negligence and remains on heightened operational readiness.