Civil Protection has released its updated fire risk map for Friday, placing all of Crete under Category 3 (High Risk). The orange zone stretches far beyond the island: Attica, Kythira, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, and much of the Peloponnese and central Greece are also included.
The message is simple: one careless spark can turn into a disaster. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant, avoid risky activities, and report any sign of fire immediately to 199.
Regions at high fire risk
The high-risk list covers:
- Crete (all prefectures)
- Attica and Kythira
- Argolis, Corinthia, Messinia
- Cyclades and Dodecanese islands
- Lesvos, Chios, Psara, Samos, Ikaria, Skyros
- Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos
- Areas of Euboea, Boeotia, Achaia, Ilia, Arcadia, and Laconia
General advice from Civil Protection
Outdoors:
- Do not burn trash, dry grass, or branches.
- Do not light outdoor grills in forests or near dry vegetation.
- Avoid spark-producing work such as welding or grinding.
- Never throw lit cigarettes.
- Take your trash with you — plastic and glass can ignite fires.
- Respect bans on access to high-risk forested areas.
Around the home:
- Clear at least 10 meters around the house of dry grass, leaves, and pine needles.
- Prune trees up to 3 meters and remove dry branches.
- Ensure tree branches do not touch walls, roofs, or balconies.
- Space trees at least 3 meters apart.
- Use non-flammable shutters, gutters, and chimney covers.
- Store firewood and flammable items in closed spaces.
- Keep water hoses long enough to cover the property.
- Install a water tank and pump that can work without electricity.
If you see smoke or fire:
- Call 199 immediately.
- Report your location, the fire’s location and direction, and what type of vegetation is burning.
If fire threatens your home
- Stay calm.
- Move flammable materials away from the house.
- Shut chimneys, windows, and doors to block embers.
- Switch off gas and fuel supplies.
- Roll up awnings and open garden gates for fire engines.
- Lay out hoses around the house.
- Keep lights on inside and outside if smoke is heavy.
- If evacuation is ordered, follow official routes and instructions.
If the fire reaches your home and escape is impossible:
- Stay inside a solid building rather than a car.
- Seal cracks with wet cloths to keep smoke out.
- Remove curtains and flammable furniture from windows and doors.
- Gather everyone in one room with water, flashlights, and batteries.
- Monitor for flare-ups after the fire passes, for at least 48 hours.
Civil Protection’s warning is blunt: prevention is the only safe option. In summer heat and wind, one careless act can ignite a blaze that endangers lives, homes, and landscapes. Crete has lived through fire before — and everyone knows the cost. This time, vigilance is the duty of all.
Iorgos wrote this piece with assistance from Arthur (ChatGPT). For more, visit Argophilia: https://www.argophilia.com