Firefighters battle agroforestry wildfire in Chalkidiki after 112 emergency alert

Ground mobilisation in Skala and Trypiti

A wildfire broke out in an agroforestry and woodland area in the Skala region of the Aristotelis municipality, located in Chalkidiki, on Saturday, 12 September 2026. The outbreak prompted an immediate response from the Hellenic Fire Service, which directed resources to contain the blaze near the coastal settlement of Trypiti. Ground operations quickly assembled a force of 43 firefighters organised across multiple response teams. A specialised unit from the 2nd Special Forestry Operations Unit (2nd EMODE) deployed a dedicated foot crew into rugged terrain where motorised equipment could not easily operate. Twelve fire engines established defensive lines along regional access routes to prevent flames from encroaching onto nearby forest land and private agricultural plots.

Coordination of aerial drops and municipal logistics

Aerial firefighting units coordinated with ground crews to suppress the active fire front burning through rural vegetation and brush. Aviation teams assigned two fixed-wing aircraft and one firefighting helicopter to carry out repeated water drops directly over the core of the blaze. To support the high water consumption of the frontline ground units, the Municipality of Aristotelis contributed several municipal water tankers. These auxiliary tankers shuttled water continuously to supply the 12 fire engines positioned at the perimeter. This coordinated logistical chain allowed ground firefighters to maintain uninterrupted suppression efforts without having to leave the active fire zone to refill.

Civil protection alert and readiness measures

Civil Protection authorities activated the national emergency alert network on Saturday morning to warn residents and travellers across the surrounding area. At 11:51, mobile devices in the Skala zone received an automated emergency notification via the 112 service. The message instructed all individuals in the broader area to remain on standby and closely follow official instructions issued by emergency responders. While certain early incident reports logged operational activity around 12:30, the 112 warning was broadcast before midday as an early safety measure. Authorities maintained the standby alert while emergency crews worked along the agricultural boundary.

Impact assessment and ongoing monitoring

Field assessments conducted by the Hellenic Fire Service confirmed that the flames did not pose an immediate danger to residential homes in the Skala or Trypiti areas. Fire suppression priorities focused on containing the perimeter within the agroforestry zone where dry brush posed a sustained ignition risk. The combined deployment of 43 firefighters, 12 operational vehicles, three aerial units, and municipal water carriers helped restrict the spread of the fire across the local landscape. Fire crews and the 2nd EMODE foot team remained stationed across the sector through Saturday afternoon to monitor hot spots and prevent any rekindling under changing weather conditions.