Wildfire in Kefalonia triggers evacuation of seven settlements, one arrested for arson
A forest fire that broke out late Saturday in Pastra, Kefalonia, prompted a barrage of 112 emergency alerts and the evacuation of seven settlements. One person has been arrested on suspicion of arson.
Fire outbreak
A forest fire ignited in the Pastra area of Kefalonia at around 23:20 on Saturday, 1 August. The blaze spread through woodland, triggering an immediate response from the Hellenic Fire Service. The first 112 emergency alert, a readiness message, was sent to residents in the wider area at 00:20 on Sunday. Within the next three hours, the situation escalated, forcing authorities to order a series of evacuations.
Evacuation orders
Between 01:21 and 03:29, the 112 system issued five evacuation messages covering seven settlements. At 01:21, residents of Kremmidi were instructed to leave and head towards Argostoli. Markopoulo followed at 01:43, also directed to Argostoli. At 02:17, the order was extended to Kateleio, again towards Argostoli. Kato Kateleio was evacuated at 02:59, with residents told to move to Ratzakli and Skala. Finally, at 03:29, the villages of Chionata, Thiramona and Mavrata were evacuated towards Argostoli. In total, six 112 messages were dispatched, including the initial information alert.
- Fire breaks out in forested area of Pastra, Kefalonia
- First 112 alert: readiness message sent to wider area
- Evacuation of Kremmidi ordered, direction Argostoli
- Evacuation of Markopoulo ordered, direction Argostoli
- Evacuation of Kateleio ordered, direction Argostoli
- Evacuation of Kato Kateleio ordered, direction Ratzakli and Skala
- Evacuation of Chionata, Thiramona and Mavrata ordered, direction Argostoli
- Deployment at 66 firefighters and 19 vehicles; more than 6,000 stremmata reported burned
- Fire in remission with no active front; 18 power poles destroyed, southern Kefalonia without electricity and water
Firefighting response
The initial response involved 31 firefighters, two pedestrian teams from the 16th Special Disaster Response Unit (EMODE), and seven vehicles, supported by water tankers and earth-moving machinery provided by the municipality of Argostoli. As the night wore on, reinforcements were deployed. By early morning, the force had grown to 52 firefighters, three pedestrian teams from the 19th EMODE, volunteers, and 12 vehicles. Aerial firefighting assets included two aircraft and one helicopter. Additionally, 10 firefighters with five vehicles were scheduled to travel by ferry from the port of Patras to join the operation. The fire service was further assisted by the first light of day, which allowed for enhanced coordination.
Arrest for arson
A 44-year-old Greek man was arrested in flagrante on suspicion of arson with intent, accused of setting the fire with a naked flame. Fire service investigators in Argostoli made the arrest with the police, working under the directorate that handles arson crimes, and Greek media reported that he had been convicted and imprisoned in the past for similar offences. The deputy regional governor of Kefalonia had confirmed the arrest earlier in the day.
Current status
Through Sunday the deployment kept growing, reaching 66 firefighters and 19 vehicles by mid-afternoon and about 70 firefighters, three pedestrian teams, volunteers and 21 vehicles by Monday morning. By 11:54 on Monday 3 August the fire was in remission with no active front, with crews still damping down and watching for flare-ups. More than 6,000 stremmata, some 600 hectares, had burned. About 300 people had been moved out of their homes.
No injuries were reported and houses in Mavrata were saved at the last moment, but the fire destroyed 18 electricity distribution poles, cutting power and water supply across southern Kefalonia. Skala, Kateleio, Ratzakli, Markopoulo, Pastra and Kremmidi were the worst affected, and four generators were brought in to Skala while crews raced to rebuild the network.
