Crete faces category 4 ‘orange’ wildfire alert Friday, bans open fires in sensitive areas
Crete’s Civil Protection mechanism has been placed on heightened alert after the General Secretariat for Civil Protection’s daily fire risk forecast map rated Friday, September 4, 2026, as category 4 (“very high”) for the entire island, the Region of Crete’s Civil Protection service said.
All emergency services and technical resources involved in Crete’s civil protection network have been put on standby, with personnel and equipment mobilized to respond to any incident linked to the elevated risk. The heightened readiness follows a recent wildfire near Prinias in Heraklion that prompted a large Fire Service response, and comes days after Crete was placed under a separate, higher “Red Code” wildfire alert for Sunday.
Bans under Fire Service Order 9/24
Under Fire Service Order 9/24, authorities have banned the burning of crop residues, grassland and pasture waste; the use of open fire outdoors for any event, including religious, cultural, entertainment or film-production purposes; smoking near beehives; hot work such as welding or cutting; the use of any type of outdoor grill; the use of sky lanterns or hot-air balloons; and the use of fireworks. Access, presence and vehicle movement are also restricted in a list of specific forests and areas.
Restricted areas by regional unit
In the Regional Unit of Heraklion, the restrictions cover the Symi forest in the Municipality of Viannos, the Rouvas–Zaros forest spanning the municipalities of Gortyna and Faistos, the Koudouma forest in the Municipality of Gortyna, the Keri forest in the Municipality of Malevizi, and the Fourni, Gioucha and Epanosifi forests in the Municipality of Archanes–Asterousia.
In the Regional Unit of Lasithi, restricted areas include the Azila forest and the Vathi forest in the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, the Thripti forest and the Selakano forest in the Municipality of Ierapetra, the Kalo Chorio forest (Municipality of Agios Nikolaos) and neighboring Meselerous (Municipality of Ierapetra), the Kritsa cypress forest and the Krousta forest in the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, the Vai palm forest in the Municipality of Sitia (restricted daily from 22:00 to 06:00), and the Pefkoseli forest at Schinokapsala in the Municipality of Ierapetra.
In the Regional Unit of Rethymno, the ban applies to the Evligia–Profitis Ilias–Agios Ioannis peri-urban forests and a reforested area south of Arkadi Monastery, both in the Municipality of Rethymno, as well as the Paradeisos Armenon grove, also in the municipality. It also covers several gorges in Crete, including one near Mylopotamos and another at Agios Antonios Patsos in the Municipality of Amari, along with peri-urban forests at Kissos, Angouseliana and Agios Ioannis in the Municipality of Agios Vasileiou, and the area south of the Kourtaliotis river section overseen by the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (OFYPEKA) and the Municipality of Agios Vasileiou, up to the river’s outlet, excluding the sandy part of the beach.
In the Regional Unit of Chania, restrictions apply to sections of the European E4 hiking path in the Municipality of Kantanos-Selino, the Kathiana wind-farm park and the Prevantoriou–Pefkon forest in the Municipality of Chania, the Agios Matthaios peri-urban forest also in the Municipality of Chania, and the Agios Ioannis and Korfou forests on the island of Gavdos.
The exact boundaries of the restricted zones are shown on maps compiled with the Forest Directorates of Crete and published at crete.gov.gr. People who live or work within the affected areas are exempt from the access restrictions, the Civil Protection service said.
Penalties and reporting
Violations of the restrictions carry administrative fines and are reported to the relevant licensing authority, such as the Directorate of Rural Economy and Veterinary Affairs, for possible further action, without prejudice to other provisions that impose stricter penalties. Authorities urged residents and visitors to remain especially cautious given the elevated fire risk.
Emergency numbers listed by Civil Protection are 199 for the Fire Service, 112 for the European emergency number, 1591 for the Forest Policy Application Inspection, 100 for the Greek Police (ELAS), 108 for the Coast Guard, and 166 for the National Emergency Aid Centre (EKAB).
