Wildfire rages uncontrolled on Greek island of Skyros, two areas evacuated

Outbreak and spread

A wildfire broke out around midday on Saturday, 15 August 2026, in a forested area near Atsitsa on the western side of the island of Skyros. The fire was burning uncontrolled through dense forest, with strong winds intensifying the fire front. Winds were blowing at intensities exceeding 7 on the Beaufort scale, reaching 7 and 8 Beaufort according to the fire service. The area had been classified at category 4, very high fire risk, on the same day. The situation was judged critical, and firefighting forces were being continuously reinforced as the flames spread despite ground and aerial efforts. Firefighters prepared for an overnight battle with the blaze. Deputy fire service spokesperson Giannis Artopoios described the situation on state broadcaster ERT.

The conditions are very difficult, as strong winds of 7 and 8 Beaufort are blowing.

He reiterated that the blaze was a very difficult one developing in the western part of the island, where scattered holiday homes are found rather than organised settlements. At the time he spoke, the fire was approximately one kilometre from the beach at Agios Fokas.

Evacuations

Two emergency 112 alerts were issued during the afternoon to move residents and visitors away from the advancing fire. The first, sent shortly after 16:30, instructed people in the Agios Fokas area to move via the main peripheral road toward Acherounes. A second alert followed shortly before 18:30, directing those in the Pefko area to head toward Chora Skyrou via the same main peripheral road. The first alert was issued at 16:31 according to one account, while the second was sent between 18:15 and 18:25 depending on the source. The alerts came as the fire front advanced through the forest toward the coast, with the blaze burning close to the Agios Fokas beach.

Firefighting forces

The initial deployment comprised 53 firefighters with five foot patrol units from the 1st, 4th and 18th EMODE, 10 vehicles, and volunteers. A later update put the figure at 88 firefighters with six foot patrol units and 21 vehicles, reflecting reinforcements that had already reached the island by ferry from Kymi on Euboea, with more expected. From the air, 11 aircraft and 5 helicopters, one of them serving a coordination role, operated periodically until the last light of day. Water tankers from the Municipality of Skyros also assisted on the ground.

Additional forces en route included 20 firefighters with 5 vehicles from the METPE Attica mechanised special unit, 6 firefighters with 3 vehicles from the Euboea Fire Services Directorate, 4 firefighters with 2 vehicles from the Thessaly region, and 5 firefighters from the 4th EMODE.

Local response and investigation

Skyros mayor Kyriakos Antonopoulos told ERTnews that the fire had descended to a lower level toward the sea and that no settlements were threatened. Authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the blaze, with the Euboea Arson Investigation Team mobilised to determine how the fire started. Firefighting forces were preparing for an all-night operation as the fire continued to burn through the forest, with additional reinforcements expected to reach the island overnight.