Firefighters battle forest blaze near scattered homes in Longades, Ioannina
The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, July 25, near scattered houses. Twenty-two firefighters, a helicopter, and municipal water tankers were deployed.
## Outbreak
A forest fire ignited in the Longades area of Ioannina on Saturday afternoon, July 25, 2026. The Fire Brigade's operations center received the alert around 18:00 local time. The flames spread through a wooded area close to scattered homes, prompting an immediate mobilization of ground and aerial resources.
Firefighting response
Twenty-two firefighters with one pedestrian team from the 5th Special Disaster Management Unit (EMODE) and volunteers were dispatched to the scene, supported by six fire engines. A single helicopter was deployed for aerial water drops. Water tankers from the Municipality of Ioannina joined the effort, providing additional supply for the ground crews. The operations center coordinated the response as the blaze burned through forest vegetation.
Risk to settlements
The fire broke out in a zone with scattered houses, raising concern for the safety of residents. No evacuation orders were reported in the initial hours. The proximity of the flames to residential structures kept firefighting resources focused on containment to prevent the fire from spreading to buildings.
Arson investigation
The Ioannina Arson Crime Investigation Unit was activated to determine the cause of the fire. Investigators will examine the origin and spread patterns once the immediate firefighting work allows access to the site.
