Cigarette thrown from car ignited deadly wildfire in Greece, killing father and son, video evidence emerges

Video captures ignition

A video obtained by Greek broadcaster ANT1 has emerged as key evidence in the investigation into the wildfire that struck the Derveni area of Oreokastro, Thessaloniki, on Tuesday, June 30. The footage shows dry grass at the roadside catching fire just two minutes after a lit cigarette was thrown from a moving car. The flames, fuelled by strong winds and dry vegetation, quickly grew into a fast-moving front.

A family tragedy

Within half an hour, the fire had travelled about two kilometres to the village of Liti, home to around 4,000 people. There, a house on the edge of a pine forest was engulfed. Firefighters later recovered two bodies: that of a 66-year-old retired teacher, found outside, and his 12-year-old son Maximos, found inside a closet. The 40-year-old mother survived with burns after being pulled from a burning car by rescuers. She is being treated at Hippokrateio Hospital.

“I thought they were both following me. I got into the car from the passenger side. The fire and smoke were so intense I couldn't see anything. When I got into the car, it was burning from the driver's side. A while later I remember firefighters came and saved me.”

How the fire spread

According to the fire service's preliminary findings, the blaze started at about 14:30 in low vegetation along a provincial road in Derveni. The fire moved through a ravine that hampered ground and aerial firefighting efforts, then tore into the pine forest towards Liti. The entire front advanced two to three kilometres in roughly 30 minutes, leaving a trail of scorched trees and ash around the family's property.

Investigation focuses on three vehicles

Investigators have placed three vehicles that passed the spot shortly before ignition under scrutiny. Security camera footage shows a truck at 14:11, a white car with open windows two minutes later, and a red car travelling in the opposite direction one minute after that. All three drivers have been located and are being examined by the fire department’s investigative unit, which is treating the discarded cigarette as the most probable cause.