Greek minister says firefighting force 'at its limits' as 11 wildfires burn and winds halt aerial operations

Today, 1 August 2026, began with 11 active wildfires still burning in Greece, the same blazes that first broke out on Thursday, according to a statement from Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas. The fires have been burning through the night and into Friday, with ground crews, military units, forest services and volunteers fighting multiple fronts.

Extreme winds stall air support

Tournas said very strong to gale-force winds are creating "extremely difficult conditions" across the country. Severe turbulence is preventing many water-bombing planes and helicopters from scooping water or making accurate drops, despite the persistent efforts of flight crews.

The multiple incidents in combination with the extreme weather conditions have brought the mechanism to its limits.

The inability of aerial assets to operate has slowed containment progress, leaving ground personnel as the main line of defence against flames that have already been burning for more than a day.

Thanks to front-line rescuers

The minister extended public thanks to all those engaged in the firefighting effort. He singled out the Fire Brigade, the Armed Forces, the Security Forces, forestry services, local authorities and volunteers, describing the operation as a "truly titanic battle".

I want to thank the men and women of the Fire Brigade, the Armed Forces and the Security Forces, the forest services, local government, all our volunteers and everyone who is in the field and is giving a truly titanic fight. In this effort, no one is surplus.

The remarks underscored that the national emergency apparatus is near breaking point, dealing with simultaneous blazes while one of its key tools, airborne water delivery, is largely grounded.

Urgent appeal to the public

Tournas appealed directly to all citizens to avoid any activity that could spark a fire, warning that even the smallest incident could escalate into a catastrophe under current weather. He said the situation is so dangerous that "fire is prohibitive" and urged people to report any sign of smoke immediately. He also asked everyone to follow faithfully the instructions of authorities and to pay close attention to the 112 emergency alert messages that are being sent to mobile phones in affected areas, reiterating that protecting human life remains the highest priority.

Fire is prohibitive and the slightest incident can lead to disaster.

The minister's statement, released to Greek media on Friday morning, did not specify the exact locations of the 11 fires or any casualties, but the overall tone indicated a firefighting system under extreme strain. Citizens were told to avoid outdoor work involving sparks or open flames and to follow all official guidance.