Very high wildfire risk forecast for Attica and four other Greek regions on Saturday 27 June

Greece's General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a very high wildfire danger warning (category 4, the second highest on the five-level scale) for Saturday, 27 June 2026. The alert affects five regions, including the capital region of Attica, as the country enters a period of elevated fire risk during the summer season.

Regions under orange alert

The fire risk prediction map published by the Secretariat designates the following areas as facing very high danger: the Northern Aegean (regional units of Lesbos and Chios), Central Greece (Boeotia, Phthiotis, Phocis, and Evia including the island of Skyros), Attica including the island of Kythira, the entire Peloponnese, and Western Greece (Achaea and Ilia). For the rest of the country on Saturday the risk is classified at category 3, meaning high level.

Emergency measures activated

In response, the General Secretariat has notified all competent state services, as well as the regions and municipalities in the affected areas, to maintain heightened civil protection readiness to respond immediately to any fire incidents. According to the Fire Service, stage 2 operational readiness is being implemented. This includes an increase in aerial surveillance patrols and ground patrols by fire, police and military forces. Additionally, fire service personnel in the specified regional units have been placed on partial standby to cope with the increased service demands that may arise from the category 4 risk.

Preventive traffic and access restrictions

The civil protection action plan for forest fire risks is being activated for these areas. Among other measures, it foresees the preventive prohibition of vehicle traffic and the presence of excursionists in national parks, forests and high-risk zones. The aim is to reduce the chance of accidental ignitions and to facilitate quick access for firefighting forces if needed.

Public safety advice

The Secretariat urges the public to exercise extreme caution and to avoid any outdoor activities that could inadvertently cause a fire. Specifically, citizens are asked not to burn dry grass, branches or crop residue, to refrain from using spark-producing machinery such as circular saws and welding devices, and to avoid outdoor barbecues, bee-smoking, or discarding lit cigarettes. The burning of fields is strictly forbidden throughout the fire season. Anyone who spots a fire is asked to call the Fire Service immediately on emergency number 199. Detailed self-protection guidance is available on the Secretariat's website at civilprotection.gov.gr.