Negligence burned down hundreds of hectares of virgin fir and pine forest in the area of Feneos, in mountainous Corinth region in north-eastern Peloponnese, in less than 24 hours. Two arrests.
Firefighters battled throughout the night to contain the large wildfire as there was no direct access inside the dense, virgin forest, and water-dropping aerial means operate only by day light.
🔥Εκτός ελέγχου η #πυρκαγιά στην #Κορινθία.
Στήνονται γραμμές άμυνας απο το Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα ώστε να περιοριστεί όσο το δυνατόν συντομότερα πριν τη δύση του ήλιου όπου και θα σταματήσουν τις ρίψεις τα εναέρια.
Η φωτιά καίει σε δύσβατη περιοχή, παρθένο δάσος με έλατα. pic.twitter.com/lORZg2a2D5
— Εποχικοί Πυροσβέστες (@epoxpyrosvestes) July 22, 2025
The fire broke out short after 3 p.m. on Tuesday near the village of Mosia, and quickly spread through the forest at an altitude of 1,000 meters.
🔥❗️Ανεξέλεγκτη η #πυρκαγιά στην #Κορινθία.
Ενίσχυση δυνάμεων απο τους γύρω νομούς,επιχειρούν 115 #πυροσβέστες με 3 ομάδες πεζοπόρων της 9ης ΕΜΟΔΕ, 38 οχήματα και ομάδα Σ.μη.Ε.Α., ενώ για την αεροπυρόσβεση έχουν διατεθεί 2 Α/Φ και
8 Ε/Π, εκ των οποίων το ένα για τον συντονισμό. pic.twitter.com/vCVBDpMh2m— Εποχικοί Πυροσβέστες (@epoxpyrosvestes) July 22, 2025
By Wednesday morning, the fire was largely contained with aerial means to resume operation by the first daylight. Firefighters in the area remain on high alert to extinguish flare-ups.
Preliminary reports indicated that several homes in the village of Kastania were damaged by the blaze. Evacuated were residents of more than seven communities.
340 firefighters and 15 teams on foot, 75 engines and municipality water tanks as well as a total of 21 water-dropping aerial means operated in the area to contain a wildfire that left behind 1,200 ha of forest in ashes.
Two Arrests
A few hours after the start of the wildfire on Tuesday, authorities detained two men – a Greek national and a foreign worker – on suspicion of causing the fire.
According to the fire service’s arson investigation unit, eyewitnesses reported the men conducting welding and metal-cutting operations near the fire’s point of origin.
The suspects were later arrested and each fined €11,812.
Investigators believe the blaze was sparked by a cutting wheel being used during the construction of a metal platform. The investigation is ongoing.
Κορινθία: Σε προσαγωγές προχώρησαν οι Αρχές. Πληροφορίες ότι η φωτιά ξεκίνησε από προετοιμασίες για ρέιβ πάρτυ μέσα στο δάσος. pic.twitter.com/mDD4RwBjxx
— Εποχικοί Πυροσβέστες (@epoxpyrosvestes) July 22, 2025
According to unconfirmed reports, the men were preparing a platform for a rave party and thus inside the forest area [!!!]
Fire Risk Warning
The fire comes amid an extreme heatwave and authorities warning of a “very high fires risk” (Category 4 – marked Orange on the map below) mainly in Peloponnese and western Greece, while “high risk” warning (Category 3 – marked Yellow) affects the most parts of the country on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Every summer, thousands of hectares of agricultural and forest land are being burned down, wildlife and farming animals perish and properties destroyed in Greece. The wildfires are mostly caused by negligence, arson or “natural causes” such as thunderbolts or not maintained power network.
A rave IN the forest?? The fines are laughable. They should be forced to rebuild the damaged homes and the inconvenience of the evacuees. Also, why is the rave organizer not being charged? Was this rave even legal? Just asking.