Greece deploys 148 firefighters as Bulgarian forest fire crosses border into Soufli

Cross-border spread from Bulgaria into Evros

A forest fire originating in Bulgarian territory crossed the frontier into northeastern Greece on the afternoon of Sunday, 4 October 2026. Thick plumes of smoke generated by the fire in Bulgaria had been visible from a considerable distance across the Evros regional unit before the perimeter reached the boundary line. The fire crossed into Greek territory at approximately 12:30, entering a dense forest expanse situated between the villages of Roussa and Mikro Dereio within the Soufli municipality. Firefighting personnel stationed throughout Soufli and the broader Evros prefecture had already been placed on heightened alert due to the approaching front. The Fire Service Operations Center in Greece received notification of the border breach shortly after midday on Sunday and immediately initiated emergency protocols.

Initial response and aerial containment

Following the initial notification at 12:30 on Sunday, the Greek Fire Service launched an immediate containment operation in the forested hills of Roussa. The first deployment phase dispatched 60 firefighters to the scene, supported by 13 firefighting vehicles and four specialized ground hiking squads from the 7th Special Forestry Operations Unit (7th EMODE). To combat the advancing fireline across steep terrain, tactical commanders directed one firefighting helicopter to conduct aerial water drops over the primary forest sector. The local administrative authority of the Soufli municipality mobilized alongside national emergency services, deploying municipal water tankers to establish water supply points for operating fire engines. The initial tactical focus centered on slowing the front before the flames could push deeper into Greek forestland.

Overnight operations and personnel reinforcement

Firefighters conducted continuous firefighting operations throughout Sunday night and into the morning hours of Monday, 5 October 2026, battling flames across the wooded boundary terrain. Ground teams worked through the darkness across the hills to construct containment lines and suppress perimeter hot spots, sustaining an all-night operation against the blaze. Following the overnight battle, the Fire Service reinforced resources on Monday morning to secure the affected area. The total number of deployed firefighters increased from 60 to 148 personnel, while the fleet of firefighting vehicles expanded from 13 to 38 trucks on site. Ground teams were enlarged from four to eight specialized hiking units, drawing personnel from the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, and 21st EMODE divisions.

Expanded aerial support and municipal assistance

Aerial firefighting operations expanded on Monday morning with the arrival of five aerial firefighting assets over the Soufli fire front. The dedicated aerial fleet comprised three helicopters and two firefighting aircraft conducting targeted water drops across active sectors in the Roussa community. The Soufli municipality maintained its on-the-ground logistical assistance throughout Monday, deploying additional municipal water tankers to support national firefighting vehicles and maintain continuous water distribution. Emergency crews remain on elevated readiness across the border zone as ground hiking units and specialized vehicles work to contain the fire perimeter within the forested zone between Roussa and Mikro Dereio.