Wildfire breaks out at Vamvakes Perachoras in Corinthia, Greece, with 56 firefighters and 8 aerial assets deployed

Outbreak and alert

A wildfire erupted in an agricultural and forest area at Vamvakes Perachoras in Corinthia, Greece, on the afternoon of Saturday, 15 August 2026. The Operations Centre of the Fire Service was notified of the incident at approximately 17:45 local time. Vamvakes lies within the broader Perachora area of Corinthia, near the municipality of Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi. At the time of the outbreak, strong winds were blowing across the area, adding to the challenge of containment. Fire forces were mobilised immediately upon notification, with the objective of containing the fire front and preventing its expansion to nearby areas.

Ground forces mobilised

For the firefighting effort on the ground, 56 firefighters were mobilised, including two foot patrol teams from the 9th EMODE (Special Units for Disaster Response). They were supported by 20 fire service vehicles and volunteers who joined the operation. Water tankers from the Municipality of Loutraki-Agioi Theodoroi in Corinthia were also integrated into the effort, reinforcing the ground forces working to contain the blaze. The combination of professional firefighters, specialised foot patrol units from the 9th EMODE, municipal water tankers, and volunteers formed a multi-layered ground response to the fire.

Aerial firefighting

Six helicopters and two firefighting aircraft were deployed for aerial firefighting operations, making a total of eight aerial assets committed to the blaze. The aircraft conducted continuous water drops over the affected area, targeting the fire from above where ground access was limited or where the fire front was most active. The deployment of both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft allowed for sustained aerial coverage during the early hours of the blaze, with the aerial assets making repeated drops wherever required to contain the flames.

Fire risk and conditions

The area was classified at very high risk of fire outbreak (category 4) on 15 August 2026. This classification placed the Corinthia region among areas where conditions were most conducive to fire ignition and spread on that day. Strong winds blowing across the area at the time of the outbreak further elevated the risk, as wind is a critical factor in the rapid expansion of wildfires through agricultural and forest terrain. The combination of the category 4 classification and the active strong winds meant that firefighting forces faced challenging conditions from the moment the fire was reported at 17:45.

Investigation

The Investigative Team for Arson Crimes of Corinthia was mobilised to investigate the causes of the wildfire. The team was activated to determine whether the fire was deliberately set or resulted from other causes. No information regarding casualties, evacuations, or property damage was reported in the available sources as of the time of publication. The firefighting operation was ongoing, with ground and aerial forces continuing their efforts to contain the blaze under strong wind conditions.