Athens Badminton theatre fire contained after sending thick smoke over city; 112 alert issued
A fire broke out at the former Badminton theatre building in Goudi Park shortly after 20:00 on Sunday, 12 July 2026, sending thick black smoke over Athens and prompting a 112 emergency alert. Firefighters have since contained the blaze inside the structure, with no threat of extension.
Fire breaks out at former Badminton theatre
Thick black smoke covered the sky over Athens on Sunday evening after a large fire ignited at the old Badminton theatre building inside the Metropolitan Park of Goudi. The blaze was reported just after 20:00 local time on 12 July 2026. Flames and dense smoke quickly spread, visible from many parts of the Greek capital. The building, once a well-known cultural venue, has been disused for some time.
The fire has now been confined to the interior of the building.
Emergency response and 112 alert
Shortly after the fire started, the 112 emergency system was activated, sending an alert to residents in the surrounding areas. The message instructed people to remain indoors with doors and windows shut and to stay on alert. Strong firefighting forces were dispatched to the scene, including 38 firefighters with 10 water trucks, 2 aerial ladder trucks, 1 breathing apparatus vehicle and 6 auxiliary units. Volunteers and water trucks from the municipalities of Athens, Zografou and Papagou-Cholargou also assisted in the operation. A drone equipped with both optical and thermal cameras provided continuous imagery to the Unified Operations Coordination Centre, aiding coordination.
- Firefighters
- 38 units
- Water trucks
- 10 units
- Aerial ladder trucks
- 2 units
- Breathing apparatus vehicles
- 1 units
- Auxiliary vehicles
- 6 units
Containment and traffic disruptions
By 21:14 local time the Hellenic Fire Service reported that the fire had been restricted to the inside of the building and that there was no risk of it spreading outdoors. Firefighting crews remained on site to complete full extinguishment. The Hellenic Police set up a safety perimeter around Goudi Park, and traffic was stopped on several key roads in the area to protect the public and give clear access to emergency vehicles.
Investigation underway
A team from the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (D.A.E.E.) has been deployed to the site to investigate the cause of the fire. No injuries have been reported so far. The operation continues as authorities work to fully extinguish the remaining hotspots and determine what sparked the blaze.
