- A major wildfire broke out on Sunday, September 20, in the Chonos area of Sitia, threatening residential communities including Karidi, Magasa, Kellaria, Adravastoi, and Zakros.
- Firefighting forces, ground crews, aerial units, civil protection teams, and local police worked through the night to protect human lives, homes, and the local ecosystem.
- Certified volunteers from EDEAK and the Hellenic Red Cross, alongside local residents using private water tankers and heavy machinery, played a vital role in supporting the operation.
- While praising the successful containment, the municipality emphasized the urgent need for a fully staffed, combat-ready permanent fire service stationed in Sitia to handle regional risks.
The Municipality of Sitia has issued a public message of gratitude following a tense multi-village wildfire threat in eastern Crete. The blaze, which erupted on Sunday, September 20, in the Chonos area, posed a severe danger to several nearby residential settlements, including Karidi, Magasa, Kellaria, Adravastoi, and Zakros.
Thanks to an immediate, large-scale mobilization, emergency services contained the front before widespread destruction occurred. In its official statement, the municipality highlighted the heroism and professionalism of the Fire Service personnel, specialized ground units, and aerial firefighting assets that battled the flames through the early morning hours in demanding terrain.
Beyond official state forces, the region’s successful defense relied heavily on seamless regional coordination and grassroots community action. The municipality commended the civil protection teams of the Lasithi Regional Unit and Sitia Municipality, as well as the Sitia Police Department.
Organized volunteer groups—including EDEAK and the Hellenic Red Cross—and local villagers also provided critical support, rushing to the front lines with private water tankers, heavy machinery, and whatever equipment was available to reinforce municipal fleets.
While the outcome avoided major tragedy, local leadership underscored a sobering takeaway: teamwork and swift coordination saved the day, but the crisis highlights the pressing need for a fully equipped, permanent fire department in Sitia to meet the region’s growing environmental challenges.