Three arrested over fires in Lesbos and Corinthia caused by discarded cigarette and solar park short circuit

Lesbos: cigarette starts fire

Fire Service investigators arrested a 23-year-old Greek national in Stypsi, Lesbos on 8 August, accusing him of starting a fire through negligence by discarding a lit cigarette. The blaze broke out at 13:49 on 7 August and burned approximately 270 square metres of dry grass and waste. He was processed under the flagrante procedure and issued an administrative fine of €1,804.68. The investigation was carried out by the Arson Crime Investigation Unit (AKAEE) of Lesbos.

Corinthia: solar park short circuit burns 550 stremmata

A second fire, at the location known as "Lakka" in the local community of Stefanio, Municipality of Corinthia, broke out at 16:04 on 7 August. According to the investigation, the fire was caused by a short circuit in the electrical equipment of a photovoltaic park. The presence of low vegetation across the entire surface of the park, combined with a lack of clearing, facilitated the rapid spread of fire fronts toward the adjacent forest area.

Two Greek nationals were arrested by investigators from the AKAEE of Corinthia, assisted by personnel from the Arson Crime Investigation Directorate (DAEE) who travelled to the area. The two are being held and will be brought before the competent prosecutorial authority. The fire burned approximately 500 stremmata of forest land and 50 stremmata of agricultural land, for a total of about 550 stremmata affected.

2026 fire season statistics

From 1 January to 8 August 2026, Greek authorities have imposed 680 administrative fines totalling €1,045,736.74 and carried out 274 arrests under the flagrante procedure for fire-related offences. Of those arrests, 245 (89.42%) were attributed to negligence and 29 (10.58%) to intent.

Negligence245

Intent29

Negligence

245 arrests

Intent

29 arrests

Data from the article text

Fire Service on heightened readiness

The DAEE and its local AKAEE units, anticipating an imminent deterioration in fire-meteorological conditions, will be on full deployment and heightened operational readiness for the immediate investigation of every fire ignition and the attribution of responsibility where violations are identified. Authorities issued a strong recommendation to citizens to comply with all prohibitions and instructions from competent authorities, to consult the daily Fire Risk Prediction Map of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, and to avoid any activity that could cause a fire.