A wildfire broke out late Friday morning in a rural area of mostly brushland near Lefkochoma in the Laconia prefecture of extreme southern Greece, prompting an emergency alert and a swift response by ground and air firefighting forces.
Firefighting Efforts Underway
The fire, which started around 11:50 a.m. local time, is classified as an agroforestry blaze, meaning it affects both farmland and wooded areas. According to the Hellenic Fire Service, 54 firefighters have been deployed to the scene, including two specialized ground teams. A total of 19 firefighting vehicles, two helicopters, and two aircraft are battling the flames from both land and air, with the support of local government water trucks.
Strong winds of up to 5 on the Beaufort scale (moderate to fresh winds) are being reported in the region, complicating containment efforts.
No Immediate Threat to Homes, But Residents Warned
As of the latest updates, no residential areas are directly threatened by the wildfire. However, Greece’s Civil Protection Agency issued a public warning via the 112 emergency alert system, urging residents in the area to remain on high alert and follow safety instructions from local authorities.
The message read: “Forest fire in the Lefkochoma area, Laconia Regional Unit. Stay alert. Follow instructions from the authorities.”
Fire Risk Remains High Across Greece
Saturday, June 28, is expected to bring critical fire weather conditions across many parts of Greece. The national Fire Risk Forecast Map shows a Level 4 alert (very high fire risk) for multiple regions and prefectures, including:
- Attica (the greater Athens area)
- Argolida
- Kilkis
- Central and southern Evia island (Euboea)
- Parts of Boeotia, Corinth, and Thessaloniki
- Islands including Crete, Lesbos, Chios, Psara, Samos and Ikaria
Much of the Greek mainland and island territories will face elevated fire risks due to hot, dry, and windy conditions.
