Stylida mayor arrested over Viotia wildfire that killed two, charges include arson with possible intent

Arrests and charges

On August 3, authorities arrested two men in connection with the wildfire that broke out in the early hours of Friday, July 31, in Viotia and quickly spread to Western Attica. One is Ioannis Apostolou, the mayor of Stylida, who owns the construction company that built the overhead power transmission line from a private wind farm to the central grid of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE). The other is the technical supervisor, an electrical engineer who signed the study and oversaw the project. Both were held at the Thebes police station and taken before a prosecutor under the flagrante delicto procedure. The prosecutor filed charges for four felonies and one misdemeanor: arson in a forest or forest area with possible intent, from which danger to human life could arise and which spread over a large area causing serious damage; causing damage to public utility installations; and destruction of property of particularly great value serving public benefit, such as fire engines and patrol cars. The prosecutor ordered their detention until their appearance before an investigating magistrate on August 4.

How the fire started

Investigators from the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE) conducted an on-site inspection with a court-appointed electrical engineer. They concluded that the fire was caused by sparks from oscillating conductors during electricity transmission from wind turbines. The sparks fell to the ground and ignited dry vegetation. The investigation found technical failures in the construction of the overhead network, including failure to clear vegetation under the cable junction and violations of technical specifications and safety rules. The case file states that those responsible knew or should have known the risks. Initial reports had suggested the fire might have started from the wind turbines themselves, but the DAEE's findings pointed to the transmission line as the source.

Defense response

The mayor's lawyer, Giorgos Doumas, strongly rejected the charges. After reviewing the initial evidence, he told LamiaReport that the case file was "extremely incomplete" and contained no evidence pointing to his client's responsibility.

“From the study of the elements and documents in the extremely incomplete case file, there is no evidence that even suggests, let alone proves, the responsibility of my client, the Mayor of Stylida, Ioannis Apostolou. In Greek justice there is no room, nor should there be, for Iphigenias on the altar of any interests and pursuits.”

Doumas said the defense awaits the full case file to respond in detail, insisting on the mayor's complete innocence.

Casualties and ongoing fire

The fire has been burning for five days as of August 4, causing extensive damage across Viotia and Western Attica. On August 2, two people died when two firefighting helicopters collided in Psatha while battling the blaze. Authorities have not ruled out supplementary charges related to those deaths. The firefighting efforts continue, with the blaze still active.

What happens next

The two suspects are scheduled to appear before an investigating magistrate on August 4 to give their statements. The investigation remains open, with further expert reports and possible additional charges pending. The firefighting efforts continue.