Greece battles five wildfires across Aitoloakarnania and Boeotia amid category 4 fire risk

Fires across Aitoloakarnania

On Thursday, 13 August 2026, at least five wildfires broke out across two Greek regions, with Aitoloakarnania accounting for four of them. All affected areas were classified at category 4 (very high) fire risk for the day.

The first reported fire erupted at midday in Makyneia, Nafpaktou, in an agroforestry area of the Regional Unit of Aitoloakarnania. Authorities first issued a 112 emergency alert as a preparedness warning to those in the wider area, then escalated it to an evacuation order directing residents to move towards Messolongi or Nafpaktos and to follow the instructions of the authorities. The fire was subsequently brought under control through the combined efforts of aerial and ground forces, before the next fires in the region broke out. The response involved 40 firefighters, two foot-patrol teams from the 6th EMODE, 12 vehicles, 3 aircraft and 1 helicopter, with water trucks from the municipality of Nafpaktos assisting.

A second fire in Aitoloakarnania was reported at midday in the forest area of Potamoula, where 12 firefighters with 4 vehicles and 2 aircraft were deployed, assisted by municipal water trucks and machinery.

A third fire broke out at approximately 17:15 between the settlements of Drymonas and Koskinas in the municipality of Thermos. The fire was described as having taken large dimensions, with strong ground and aerial forces mobilized for its suppression. Reports on the deployment vary, with firefighter counts ranging from 20 to 55 and aerial assets reported as either 4 aircraft or 5 aircraft plus 1 helicopter. All accounts agree on the involvement of two foot-patrol teams from the 6th EMODE, 14 vehicles, and water trucks from the municipality of Thermos. Construction machinery also assisted at the scene.

A fourth fire in Aitoloakarnania was reported at approximately 18:00 in Mamoulada Nafpaktias, an agroforestry area. The response included 45 firefighters with 9 vehicles, among them 22 firefighters with 4 vehicles from the Czech Republic deployed under the EU's prepositioning program for European firefighters. One helicopter was assigned for aerial suppression, with water trucks from the municipality of Nafpaktia assisting.

Fire in Boeotia

Separately, a fire broke out at approximately 16:00 in an agricultural area at Akontio, Boeotia. The deployment included 40 firefighters, two foot-patrol teams from the 4th EMODE, and 8 vehicles. Reports on aerial assets differ, with either 2 aircraft or 4 aircraft and 2 helicopters deployed. Water trucks from the municipality of Levadeon assisted the operation. The area was also classified at category 4 (very high) fire risk for the day.

Investigation and monitoring

For all fires in Aitoloakarnania, the Arson Investigation Unit of Aitoloakarnania was activated to examine the causes. For the Akontio fire in Boeotia, the Arson Investigation Unit of Phthiotis was activated. Throughout the Makyneia and Akontio incidents, ESKEDIK maintained continuous drone surveillance using thermal and optical cameras, providing real-time imagery to the operations centre. The drone feeds allowed coordinators to track the fires' progression across the simultaneous incidents. All affected areas remained at category 4 risk level throughout the day.