Wildfire threatens Greek town of Konitsa as flare-ups split blaze into three fronts

Flare-up on Mount Trapezitsa

A wildfire that ignited on Monday, 31 August 2026, on the rugged slopes of Mount Trapezitsa escalated significantly on Sunday, 6 September, threatening the town of Konitsa in northwestern Greece. The fire, which authorities suspect began from a lightning strike in an inaccessible ravine, had shown signs of receding following brief rainfall two days earlier. However, strengthening winds reignited scattered hot spots over the weekend, pushing flames over the mountain ridge into dense pine forest. By Sunday evening, the blaze had divided into three separate fronts, with one active line measuring approximately half a kilometre moving toward the town's eastern outskirts, while earlier flames had reached the banks of the Aoos River.

Firefighting deployment and logistical hurdles

Greek authorities mobilized 170 firefighters to combat the blaze on Sunday evening. The deployment included 117 personnel operating 45 water tenders and 20 support vehicles, alongside 53 specialized firefighters organised across nine Forest Commando units. A dedicated drone team from Epirus provided aerial surveillance over the mountainous terrain. Thirteen aerial firefighting assets, comprising Canadair and Air Tractor aircraft as well as helicopters, operated across the mountain until nightfall at around 20:00, when operations shifted entirely to ground teams. Logistical challenges hampered the aerial campaign, as Canadair planes had to travel to Thessaloniki to refuel, increasing turnaround times between water drops.

The operational difficulties were outlined by fire service officials managing the response in the difficult terrain.

This is a particularly demanding fire, as it unfolds in dense pine forest with ravines and severe topography, which makes access for ground forces significantly difficult.

Defense lines and emergency alerts

The Civil Protection service triggered two emergency alerts via the 112 system on Sunday to warn local residents. The first alert in the morning instructed people in Konitsa to remain indoors with doors and windows closed due to heavy smoke descending through mountain ravines. A second alert issued past 21:30 called on residents to stay on standby and follow instructions from emergency authorities. Firefighters deployed vehicles in a defensive barrier near the settlement while earthmoving machinery cut firebreaks to protect homes and surrounding ecosystems. The Fire Service described the fire as creeping and backing, burning low along the ground and spreading against prevailing wind directions through dense, roadless forest.

Satellite tracking and weather conditions

Satellite imagery evaluated on Sunday night by researchers at the National Observatory of Athens revealed widespread thermal anomalies across Mount Trapezitsa, with the westernmost hotspots situated close to Konitsa's boundary. The data confirmed multiple fragmented active zones rather than a continuous fireline, matching ground reports of erratic spread across steep topography. High temperatures added to the risk of renewed flare-ups, with the local automated weather station registering a maximum of 38°C on Sunday, compared to the 2014–2024 average September peak of 28°C. Meteorological forecasts indicate clear skies, no rainfall, and continued elevated temperatures for the subsequent 48 hours.