Fire service meeting scheduled as heatwave warnings persist

Fire Chief Nikos Longinos has convened a meeting for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 08:15 at the Fire Service Headquarters to coordinate emergency measures due to high temperatures and heatwave conditions. Spokesperson Andreas Kettis noted that the Fire Service responded to 1,350 fires in 2026, with over 10% posing severe risks, mostly attributed to human negligence. Authorities have issued strict warnings against activities such as burning agricultural waste and using heat-generating tools during this period. Meanwhile, on July 18, 2026, a separate wildfire broke out in the Sitia region of Crete. This fire, located between Ziros and Xerokampos, is being managed by 60 firefighters, 18 vehicles, and aerial support. While authorities activated the 112 emergency alert system as a precaution, officials report that no homes are currently at risk due to favorable wind direction. Concurrently, the Civil Protection agency has placed parts of Crete under a category 4 high-risk fire alert, with the Attica region marked at category 3.