Firefighters and aircraft battle agroforestry blaze near homes in Ano Peraia

Outbreak in Ano Peraia agroforestry land

A wildfire broke out in an agroforestry expanse in Ano Peraia, situated within the Thessaloniki regional area, during the late afternoon of Friday, 4 September 2026. The Operations Center of the Hellenic Fire Service received the initial distress notification regarding the incident at approximately 17:45 local time. The fire developed across mixed agricultural and woodland plots, moving through dry vegetation toward the edges of local settlements. Multiple scattered residences are located in close physical proximity to the active fire front, requiring immediate defensive posturing from emergency services. Responding crews moved quickly to establish containment lines around the perimeter to prevent flames from reaching private homes and rural properties. Operational priority focused on halting the forward progress of the front before adverse conditions could spread the fire further across the landscape.

Civil protection alert and municipal support

Authorities activated civil protection protocols shortly after receiving the first operational reports from the field. At 17:50, five minutes after the initial notification, the emergency 112 messaging service broadcast an automated alert to mobile devices across the wider region. The message instructed residents and visitors located in the surrounding area of Ano Peraia to remain on standby and follow instructions from emergency personnel. The Municipality of Thermaikos mobilized municipal resources to reinforce the frontline emergency crews operating on the ground. Municipal teams provided auxiliary water tanker vehicles to supply a steady stream of water to firefighting units. Local administration personnel worked in direct coordination with fire service command to secure access roads and facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.

Escalation of ground and aerial forces

The emergency response began with an initial deployment of 20 firefighters, six fire vehicles, and a specialized ground team from the 2nd Special Forestry Operations Unit (EMODE). As the operational perimeter developed, the Fire Service reinforced its commitment, increasing ground resources to 25 firefighters and nine fire engines. The specialized EMODE team operated on foot across rough agroforestry terrain to clear vegetation and extinguish active flame lines where standard vehicles could not navigate. Aerial support units joined the operation to deliver aerial water drops directly onto the core of the blaze. A total of three aerial firefighting assets participated in the mission, comprising one fixed-wing firefighting aircraft and two medium helicopters. These aircraft conducted repeated water drops over the primary front to cool hotspots and suppress flame height.

Drone surveillance and arson investigation

Throughout the entire progression of the fire, the National Emergency Coordination Center (ESKEDIK) maintained continuous aerial observation over the affected sector. Command staff utilized an operational drone fitted with dual optical and thermal imaging cameras to stream live aerial footage directly to headquarters. This continuous video stream allowed incident commanders to monitor heat signatures, detect hidden flare-ups, and track the direction of smoke across the rural landscape. At the same time, authorities initiated formal investigative procedures to determine what caused the blaze to ignite. A specialized team from the Thessaloniki Arson Crimes Investigation Department traveled to the scene to inspect the point of origin. Investigators began collecting physical evidence from the burned area to establish whether the fire resulted from negligence or intentional arson.