Sitia wildfire eases after ‘unprecedented’ fire brigade mobilization, mayor says

A large wildfire that broke out on Sunday afternoon in the Chonos area near Rousa Ekklisia, in the municipality of Sitia, was in remission on Monday morning after an extensive, hours-long firefighting operation, according to Sitia mayor Giorgos Zervakis.

Speaking to Cretaone 102.3 on the “Live with Antigoni” program, Zervakis described an “unprecedented mobilization” of the Fire Service, with both ground and aerial units deployed to the fire front. He said the fire broke out in hard-to-access terrain, which significantly hampered ground crews, while strong winds made containment efforts more difficult.

“For the first time I saw such a large mobilization from the Fire Service. There may have been 40 to 50 vehicles, along with rescuers and residents who took part in the operations,” Zervakis said.

Preventive evacuations

The mayor said preventive evacuations were carried out in settlements in the area, with residents following instructions from the authorities. He noted that evacuation decisions are not easy, particularly for small settlements with elderly residents or people with mobility issues.

“Ensuring residents’ safety comes first. Especially in villages with elderly people who need to leave a home quickly, it isn’t easy,” Zervakis said, adding that there were two or three incidents during the fire but “fortunately nothing particularly serious.”

He said decisions are made with the protection of human life as the primary criterion, even if later assessments might question whether a given evacuation was strictly necessary. “You carry out the rescue plan because human life is precious,” he said, adding that no one can know in advance how a fire front will develop.

Cause under investigation

According to Zervakis, only a few small hotspots remained in the area as of Monday morning, with the fire in remission. The operation was continuing, however, due to the difficulty of accessing certain points.

On the cause of the fire, the mayor said the Fire Service is investigating the conditions under which it broke out and that a clearer picture is expected in the coming days. He added that there is not yet a precise estimate of the extent of the burned area, but that it covers a particularly extensive zone that includes significant olive grove land.

“It was a difficult operation, but you do it to protect human life,” Zervakis concluded.