Two wildfires in Thesprotia ignite 20 minutes apart, Galatas residents ordered to evacuate via 112
Agricultural and forest fires broke out near Paramythia at 17:00, with a second front flaring just 20 minutes later. Authorities ordered the preventive evacuation of Galatas via the 112 emergency system, directing residents toward Karioti.
Two fronts erupt within 20 minutes
Shortly after 17:00 on Saturday, 11 July, a wildfire ignited in agricultural-forest land in the Kampos area of Paramythias, Thesprotia. Firefighters from the regional service rushed to the location. Within just 20 minutes, a second fire broke out in a nearby forested stretch, turning the operation into a two-front battle. The first front burned near the settlement of Kampos in Ano Paramythia, while the second, near Kato Paramythia, was reported to be under control relatively quickly. The sudden appearance of a second blaze so close to the original raised suspicions of arson, and an investigative team from the Ioannina branch of the Arson Crimes Department was called to the scene.
- First wildfire breaks out in agricultural-forest land at Kampos Paramythias.
- Second fire ignites in a forested area, about 20 minutes after the first.
- 112 emergency alert sent to Galatas, ordering preventive evacuation towards Karioti.
112 evacuation of Galatas
As the flames edged closer to residential areas, the Civil Protection headquarters activated the emergency alert system at 17:45. A text message via 112 ordered all residents of the Galatas settlement to leave immediately and follow the route toward Karioti.
If you are in the Galatas area, move towards Karioti. Follow the instructions of the authorities.
Hundreds of people received the warning while authorities on the ground directed the evacuation. Despite the tense situation, by early evening there were no confirmed reports of injuries or damage to homes, with officials stressing that the fires were still some distance from the built-up area of Galatas.
Scaling up the firefighting effort
The first wave of responders included 18 firefighters, five vehicles, one pedestrian unit of the 5th Special Forest Fire Unit (EMODE) and a single helicopter. As the second fire erupted, the fire service quickly bolstered its presence. Within an hour, 25 firefighters with seven vehicles and two aircraft were on site. By late afternoon, the total force had expanded to 48 firefighters, 15 vehicles, two pedestrian units of the 5th EMODE, four water-dropping aircraft and one helicopter. The Epirus Regional Authority provided water tankers and earth-moving machinery to cut firebreaks, while the Municipality of Souli also contributed machinery and tankers from the very first moments. Aircraft and the helicopter performed continuous water drops, targeting hot spots at both fronts.
Arson probe
Given the near-simultaneous start of two fires in two different spots, officials treat the incident as a likely case of arson. A dedicated team from the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE) in Ioannina traveled to the area to gather evidence and assess whether the blazes were deliberately set. Investigators have not ruled out other causes, but the 20-minute gap between the two ignitions has made the arson hypothesis a primary line of inquiry. No suspect information has been disclosed, and the probe remains ongoing.
