Greek firefighters and aircraft deploy to contain forest blaze in Pentakorfo
Firefighting crews, specialized ground teams, and two aircraft mobilized on Sunday afternoon to fight a forest fire in Pentakorfo near Agrinio, as regional authorities faced Category 3 fire danger.
Outbreak in Agrinio municipality
A forest fire broke out on Sunday afternoon, 23 August 2026, in a forest expanse located in the Pentakorfo area of Aetolia-Acarnania. The affected woodland is situated in the Parakampylia municipal unit, which belongs to the Municipality of Agrinio in western Greece. The Operations Center of the Hellenic Fire Service received the first alert concerning the incident at approximately 17:15 local time. Following the alert, emergency response authorities immediately coordinated a targeted deployment of personnel and equipment to the scene. First responders moved to prevent the blaze from extending further into the surrounding forested environment.
Initial response and aerial support
Initial firefighting mobilization brought 16 firefighters and four vehicles directly to the fire front in Pentakorfo. Operations on the ground were reinforced by a team of foot firefighters from the 6th Special Forestry Operations Unit (6th EMODE), who operated across the rugged woodland. In addition to professional crews, volunteer firefighters mobilized to assist with containment efforts and water supply lines. For aerial suppression, two firefighting aircraft were deployed to make targeted water drops directly onto the active fire perimeter. These coordinated initial measures aimed to establish early control over the expanding fire perimeter.
- Firefighters
- 23
- Vehicles
- 7
- Aircraft
- 2
- EMODE foot units
- 1
Escalation of ground forces and municipal resources
As the response progressed during Sunday afternoon, fire officials reinforced the operation by deploying additional ground resources to the site. The total operational contingent expanded to 23 firefighters, seven vehicles, and the dedicated ground team from the 6th EMODE. The two firefighting aircraft maintained aerial operations over the area, conducting continuous drops in coordination with ground personnel. Volunteer firefighters remained deployed alongside the state services to secure the fire boundary. The expanded deployment provided increased operational coverage across the forested terrain in Pentakorfo.
Local municipal assistance and heavy machinery
The Municipality of Agrinio mobilized municipal resources to assist the Hellenic Fire Service throughout the operation. Local government authorities dispatched municipal water tanker trucks to provide continuous refills for the fire engines operating on the frontline. The municipality also provided heavy construction machinery to carry out essential earthworks and clear operational access paths across the wooded landscape. These municipal resources operated directly alongside firefighters and specialized forestry teams to enhance on-site water logistics and operational accessibility.
- Fire Service Operations Center receives initial notification of the forest fire.
- 16 firefighters, 4 vehicles, 1 EMODE team, and 2 aircraft deploy to Pentakorfo.
- Ground response expands to 23 firefighters and 7 vehicles with municipal assistance.
- The Arson Crimes Investigation Unit mobilizes to determine the origin of the blaze.
Category 3 risk rating and arson investigation
The fire occurred while Aetolia-Acarnania was under a Category 3 high fire risk designation, indicating elevated regional danger on Sunday. To determine the exact causes and circumstances of the outbreak, the Arson Crimes Investigation Unit of Aetolia-Acarnania was formally mobilized. Specialized investigators from the unit have been tasked with examining the site of origin in Pentakorfo to identify the ignition source. Their investigation will assess whether the forest fire resulted from accidental negligence or intentional unlawful activity. Firefighters and municipal support teams remain on site to extinguish remaining hot spots and monitor the area.
