Wildfire in Oreokastro forces evacuation of 157 residents from chronic illness care home
A wildfire broke out in Oreokastro, Thessaloniki, on Saturday evening, prompting the preventive evacuation of the Agios Panteleimon chronic illness institution with 157 residents.
Fire outbreak and spread
A wildfire ignited around 20:30 on Saturday in a semi-forested area east of Oreokastro, Thessaloniki. Strong winds of at least 6 Beaufort caused the flames to spread rapidly, moving south toward the settlement of Efkarpia. The fire engulfed a workshop, a factory, and a warehouse, though authorities said no other buildings were in immediate danger. A 112 emergency alert was issued at 20:52, ordering the evacuation of the Anthoupoli settlement toward the TITAN area.
Evacuation of care home
The Agios Panteleimon chronic illness institution, located within the municipality's administrative boundaries, was evacuated preventively as the fire front approached. Mayor Pantelis Tsakiris confirmed that 157 residents were being moved: 120 ambulatory individuals to the Kontaxopouleio municipal gym, and 37 non-ambulatory patients to the 424 Military Hospital in Thessaloniki. Four buses carried out the transfer.
Right now the Agios Panteleimon chronic illness institution is being evacuated. The patients are being transferred to Kontaxopouleio, as the evacuation plan provides, and to the Psychiatric Hospital for the non-ambulatory.
Firefighting response
A total of 74 firefighters with 2 ground teams of the 2nd EMODE, 28 vehicles, and volunteers were deployed to the scene, supported by water tankers and earth-moving machinery from the Central Macedonia Region. Fire service forces were also to be moved preventively toward Derveni to contain the fire's spread in that direction. Deputy Interior Minister (Macedonia-Thrace) Kostas Gioulekas was present at the site.
Proximity to previous deadly fire
The mayor noted that the new fire broke out within a radius of one kilometer from a blaze two days earlier that claimed lives, including a 12-year-old child. The earlier fire had already devastated the area, and the current one added to the strain on local emergency services.
The fire is very close to the one the day before yesterday, which cost us our fellow human beings, among them a 12-year-old child. Within a radius of one kilometer it happened again today.
Industrial area at risk
The fire moved through an area with factories and workshops. While one industrial building, a workshop, and a warehouse were already burning, officials reported no immediate threat to other nearby structures. Evacuation orders were also given for the settlements of Anthoupoli and Filothei.
- Fire breaks out in a semi-forested area east of Oreokastro.
- 112 emergency alert orders evacuation of Anthoupoli settlement.
- Preventive evacuation of Agios Panteleimon institution with 157 residents starts.
- Workshop, factory, and warehouse engulfed; firefighters work to contain spread.
