Wildfire near Konitsa nears Aoos river and settlements after seven-day blaze
A wildfire burning since 31 August in the Trapezitsa pine forest expanded toward Konitsa and the Stomio ravine on 6 September 2026, prompting 112 readiness alerts as 170 firefighters deployed.
Surge across Trapezitsa forest
A wildfire that ignited on the afternoon of Monday, 31 August 2026, in a pine forest near Trapezitsa flared up on the morning of Sunday, 6 September 2026. Raging for a seventh consecutive day, the blaze expanded through dense virgin pine growth and rugged mountain territory within the municipality of Konitsa, located in the Ioannina regional unit of Epirus. The fire progressed along steep saddles, narrow passages, and deep ravines, limiting ground access and accelerating flame propagation across the slopes.
Hellenic Fire Service deputy spokesperson Giannis Artopios described the operational obstacles during an interview on state broadcaster ERT:
The fire is burning in very difficult places, significantly hindering the firefighting operation.
Emergency alerts and threat to settlements
Civil protection authorities issued two emergency warnings via the 112 messaging network on Sunday to alert residents across the Konitsa area. The initial alert, transmitted on Sunday morning, warned the public of heavy smoke blowing into populated areas, ordering residents to remain indoors with doors and windows closed. As the fire front reached approximately 500 metres in width and moved closer to the settlement zone and surrounding villages on Sunday evening, a second 112 message ordered residents to maintain full readiness.
Firefighting crews positioned vehicles and hoses along perimeter lines outside the residential boundary to block the fire from reaching homes.
Escalation of ground and aerial response
Emergency services steadily increased deployments at the scene throughout Sunday. Morning operations commenced with 150 firefighters, six specialized forest commando units, and 48 vehicles, supported by 12 aircraft. By Sunday evening, the ground deployment grew to 170 firefighters, more than 60 vehicles, and 10 commando teams representing the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 10th units of the Special Forestry Operations Unit (EMODE).
- Wildfire breaks out in pine forest near Trapezitsa
- Flames flare up in rugged terrain; 112 smoke alert sent to nearby residents
- Ground deployment expands to 170 firefighters and over 60 vehicles
- Active 500-metre front nears residential zone and Stomio ravine; new 112 alert issued
Aviation units conducted water drops across the ridges until sunset, when aerial operations were suspended. The air fleet consisted of 12 aircraft, including eight helicopters and four fixed-wing planes, among them Canadair amphibious water bombers. Ground crews continued firefighting efforts into the night across the uncontained perimeter.
Advance toward Aoos river and Stomio ravine
By late Sunday, the fire front descended toward the banks of the Aoos river and neared the Stomio ravine. The gorge is an ecologically sensitive and highly inaccessible core area of the local National Park. The steep topography inside the ravine prevented heavy fire trucks from approaching the active front, leaving ground teams on foot to create firebreaks in difficult terrain to protect the virgin pine ecosystem.
