Wildfire breaks out in Crete’s Messara region, prompting 112 alert

A large wildfire broke out on Tuesday afternoon in the Messara region of Crete, between the villages of Vourvoulitis and Agioi Deka, prompting Greece’s 112 emergency alert system to warn nearby residents.

The alarm was raised early in the afternoon at the Fire Service, which reported that the blaze was burning grass and scrubland. The response mobilized was described as large.

According to initial reports, the fire appeared to have two separate fronts, with the one closer to Vourvoulitis said to be better contained than the other.

Firefighting effort

Twenty-five firefighters were deployed to the area, supported by a ground crew from the 3rd Special Firefighting Force (3rd EMODE), eight vehicles and four aerial firefighting units. Municipal water tanker trucks were also assisting the operation.

The firefighting operation was reported to be in full progress, with Fire Service resources continuing to be reinforced. The blaze comes as Crete faced a high wildfire risk rating for Tuesday, August 25, according to civil protection authorities, and follows other recent incidents such as a blaze in low vegetation near Zoniana.

112 alert issued

At 17:27, a message was sent via the 112 system to residents of the Agioi Deka area regarding the fire, urging them to remain alert, stay ready, and follow instructions from the authorities.

Wildfires have caused significant damage across Crete this summer, including in Rethymno, where inspections found 25 buildings severely damaged after a major wildfire.