Fire at Markopoulo recycling factory under partial control; 65 firefighters deployed, arson probe launched

Fire breaks out at recycling plant

A fire broke out at a recycling factory in the Patima area of Markopoulo Mesogaias, a municipality in eastern Attica, on the evening of Wednesday, July 29. The Fire Service's operations center received the call at 21:40, and a large-scale response was immediately mobilized. The factory is located in an industrial zone in the Mesogeia region, approximately 30 kilometers east of Athens.

Emergency response

A total of 65 firefighters were deployed to the scene, including four pedestrian units from the 1st EMODE (the Special Disaster Response Unit of the Hellenic Fire Service). They were supported by 15 fire engines and volunteer firefighters. Water tankers from the municipalities of Markopoulo, Kropia, and Artemis were also dispatched to assist with water supply, a common practice in Greek firefighting operations. The firefighting operation continued through the night. By the early hours of Thursday, July 30, the fire had been brought under partial control, according to updates from the Fire Service. However, fire crews remained on site to fully extinguish the blaze and prevent any rekindling. While some initial reports suggested the fire was under control, the Fire Service clarified that it was under partial control.

Damage assessment

The fire caused extensive material damage to the factory's facilities. An early report from NewsIT, published at 21:12 on Wednesday, described the unit as having suffered almost total destruction. Later updates from the Fire Service and other outlets referred to extensive material damage. No injuries were reported among workers or emergency responders. The factory's operations were presumably disrupted, though no official statement on operational status was immediately available.

Investigation launched

The Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (Δ.Α.Ε.Ε.) has been activated to investigate the cause of the fire. The Δ.Α.Ε.Ε. is a specialized directorate within the Hellenic Fire Service that investigates fires suspected to be caused by arson. The unit will examine all possible scenarios, including the possibility of arson. As of Thursday morning, no findings had been released.