Crete rated high wildfire risk for Friday, August 21, fire service map shows
Crete is among the regions facing a high risk of wildfire on Friday, August 21, 2026, according to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by Greece’s Fire Brigade (Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα).
The map places Crete, along with the Cyclades and the Dodecanese, in category 3, the “high risk” tier on the service’s five-level scale. Several other regions of the country share the same rating, including Attica, Kythera, Boeotia, Evia, Skyros, Phthiotis, Phokis, Aitoloakarnania, Thesprotia, Preveza, Arta, Argolis, Corinthia, Ilia, Messinia, Lakonia, Kefalonia, Ithaca, Zakynthos, the Sporades, the northeastern Aegean islands, and parts of Magnisia, Achaia, Arkadia and Evros.
The Fire Brigade said category 3 corresponds to high fire risk, requiring increased vigilance, particularly in areas with high temperatures and strong winds. Authorities have previously placed Crete under an even higher risk category this season as conditions fluctuate day to day.
The service urged residents and visitors to avoid any activity that could spark a fire and to follow instructions from the competent authorities.
Ongoing protection measures
The elevated risk comes as authorities continue efforts to safeguard sites across the island; Crete’s archaeological sites are also covered by a national early-warning system, with Knossos and Phaistos among the monuments added to a wildfire-detection network earlier this month.
Warm, dry conditions have persisted across the island in recent days, with clear skies and highs reaching 33°C reported for Thursday, August 20, ahead of Friday’s elevated fire-risk forecast.
