Crete faces very high wildfire risk on Saturday, civil protection on alert
The Region of Crete has placed its civil protection mechanism on heightened alert for Saturday, August 8, 2026, after classifying the wildfire risk across the entire island as very high, category 4.
The regional authority has called on residents and visitors to exercise particular caution and reminded the public of restrictions in place on activities that could cause fires. All services and technical resources forming part of the civil protection mechanism have been placed on standby, with personnel and equipment mobilized to respond to emergencies given the elevated threat.
Weather conditions
Temperatures on Saturday will vary slightly between the north and the typically warmer south of Crete. In Moires, temperatures are expected to reach 37 degrees Celsius during peak hours, while Heraklion will see 34 degrees. Ierapetra and Rethymno are expected to record similar temperatures to Heraklion, with Agios Nikolaos and Sitia in Lasithi slightly cooler at around 32 degrees. In Chania, temperatures of 35 to 36 degrees are forecast for Paleochora, Sfakia and the city of Chania itself. Winds will blow from northwesterly directions, reaching up to 5 Beaufort.
Restrictions in force
Under Fire Service Regulation No. 9/24, a number of activities are banned across designated areas, including: burning of crop residue, grassland or pasture; the use of open fire outdoors for any event, including religious, cultural, recreational or film-related activities; smoking near beehives; hot work such as welding or the use of cutting wheels; outdoor barbecues using any type of fuel; sky lanterns or hot-air balloons; and the use of fireworks.
The regulation also restricts the passage, presence and movement of people and vehicles in specific forested and protected areas across all four regional units of Crete — Heraklion, Lasithi, Rethymno and Chania — including areas such as the Symi forest in the Municipality of Viannos, the Rouvas-Zaros forest, the Vai palm forest in the Municipality of Sitia (restricted daily from 22:00 to 06:00), the Kissamou and Kantanou-Selinou sections of the European E4 trail, and several forests and gorges around Rethymno and Chania.
Maps showing the exact boundaries of the restricted areas, drawn up in cooperation with the Crete Forestry Directorates, are available on the Region of Crete’s website. People who live or work within the restricted areas are exempt from the ban. Authorities said administrative fines will be imposed on violators, and offences will be reported to the relevant licensing authority, such as the Directorate of Rural Economy and Veterinary Medicine, for further action, without prejudice to stricter penalties provided under other regulations.
Emergency contacts
Residents and visitors can reach the Fire Service at 199, the European emergency number 112, the Forest Policy Implementation Inspectorate at 1591, the Hellenic Police at 100, the Coast Guard at 108, and the National Emergency Aid Center (EKAB) at 166.
