Greek fire service mobilises 50 firefighters and five aircraft against Drosopigi wildfire

Wildfire outbreak in northern Attica

A wildfire broke out in low vegetation on the morning of Sunday, 6 September 2026, in the Drosopigi area of Afidnes, situated within the Oropos municipality of northern Attica. The Operations Centre of the Hellenic Fire Service received the initial call alerting officers to the fire at approximately 10:30 in the morning. The notification prompted an immediate coordination effort among regional dispatchers, directing ground apparatus, municipal support units, and specialised forestry brigades toward the coordinates reported in Oropos.

The affected territory consists of low-lying brush, dry scrub, and seasonal ground cover. Responding personnel established operational access routes along rural roads in Afidnes, deploying hose lines and creating physical containment perimeters to prevent flames from expanding across open terrain toward nearby residential zones and properties across the municipal district.

Ground forces and aerial operations

Fire services mobilised an extensive array of personnel and equipment to suppress the blaze. The operational response assembled 50 professional firefighters operating alongside three specialised foot units from the 1st Special Forestry Operations Unit (EMODE). These state forces were reinforced by teams of volunteer firefighters and a dedicated contingent of 15 operational fire engines deployed directly along the perimeter.

In addition to ground forces, aviation units provided rapid aerial firefighting support over the terrain. Five aerial vehicles operated over the fire ground, comprising two water-bombing fixed-wing aircraft and three firefighting helicopters. The aircraft performed targeted water drops across the burning brush to assist ground teams in cooling active hot spots along the containment lines.

Municipal involvement and emergency notifications

Local civic authorities joined the suppression efforts alongside the national fire service to reinforce operational capacity. The Municipality of Oropos dispatched municipal water tankers to replenish fire engines and maintain a steady water supply for the crews on site. Cooperation between municipal workers and deployed crews ensured continuous access to water along rural access tracks throughout the morning operation.

As the fire burned through the dry vegetation, civil protection authorities enacted precautionary safety procedures for nearby communities. A formal alert was broadcast via the 112 emergency notification system to individuals residing in Drosopigi. The directive instructed local residents to remain in a state of operational readiness and follow guidance from emergency personnel while containment efforts proceeded.

Regional fire danger level

The incident in Drosopigi developed during elevated regional fire danger conditions across Attica. Official civil protection assessments for Sunday classified the wider area under Category 3 fire risk, indicating a high risk of wildfire ignition and rapid propagation. This official risk classification placed regional fire stations and municipal disaster management departments on heightened operational readiness throughout the region.

Under Category 3 conditions, emergency services maintain enhanced monitoring across rural brushland prone to seasonal fire outbreaks. Firefighters, municipal personnel, and local volunteers remained stationed throughout the affected sector in Afidnes to dampen smouldering vegetation, manage remaining hot spots, and ensure containment under prevailing weather conditions.