Greek fire service arrests 20 people for negligent fires in early July

During the first five days of July 2026 the Greek Fire Service (Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα) intensified its auto‑fóri investigations and arrested 20 individuals for causing fires through negligence. The arrests spanned several regions, including Attica, where four men were caught performing hot‑work with a wheel on very high‑risk days and each received a €3,000 fine, and the mainland districts of Argolis, Kavala and Corinth, where four people were detained for fires started by equipment, an electric cable and other careless activities, with fines ranging from €2,707 to €3,000.

In total, the fire service has recorded 164 automatic arrests and imposed €645,080 in administrative penalties since the start of 2026, with 92 % of those linked to accidental fires. The recent wave of incidents also contributed to 36 forest fires reported nationwide in a 24‑hour period, 29 of which were contained quickly while 7 remained active. The authorities emphasized that most wildfires stem from human negligence and warned that strict compliance with fire‑prevention measures is essential to safeguard lives, property and the environment.