Fire risk in Crete and ongoing wildfire in Sitia

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, the Greek General Secretariat for Civil Protection issued a high fire risk warning for the regional units of Rethymno, Heraklion, and Lassithi. Attica and other regions are also under a category 3 alert, requiring public caution. Separately, a wildfire broke out at 7:00 AM near Sitia, specifically between Ziros and Xerokampos. The response involves 60 firefighters, 18 vehicles, two foot units, and one helicopter. Authorities activated the 112 emergency alert system to keep residents in a state of readiness. While the wildfire is burning in a grassland area, officials including Fire Department representative Ioannis Artopoios and Sitia Mayor Georgios Zervakis confirmed that residential areas are not currently threatened, largely due to wind directions blowing away from the Xerokampos settlement. High winds continue to complicate suppression efforts.