Car fire spreads to woodland in Neo Kouvaras, prompting deployment of 45 firefighters

Fire ignition on Michail Gkini Street

A forest fire broke out on the afternoon of Saturday, 5 September 2026, in the settlement of Neo Kouvaras in East Attica. The blaze originated from a passenger car parked or travelling on Michail Gkini Street before flames escaped the vehicle and extended into adjacent woodland. The Operations Centre of the Hellenic Fire Service received the first emergency notification regarding the incident at approximately 17:15 local time. Dense roadside vegetation allowed the initial car fire to spread into the neighbouring forest area within minutes of ignition. Emergency dispatchers immediately escalated the alert level due to the proximity of the burning car to heavy woodland cover. Local municipal services from Saronikos responded to support the first arriving firefighting units as smoke rose above the residential and rural boundary.

Emergency mobilization on ground and air

The Hellenic Fire Service launched a coordinated operation combining ground crews and aerial support to suppress the advancing flames. A force of 45 firefighters deployed to the fire front on Michail Gkini Street, supported by 15 fire vehicles. Two specialized foot teams from the 1st Special Forestry Operations Unit (1st EMODE) entered the forested area to construct containment lines and halt ground spread. Aerial firefighting operations began shortly after ground arrival, involving a total of four aircraft comprising two firefighting planes and two helicopters. The Municipality of Saronikos provided assistance to the operation by dispatching water-bearing trucks to supply the fire engines operating in the field.

High fire risk category in East Attica

The outbreak in Neo Kouvaras developed under elevated regional fire risk classifications across the wider Attica prefecture. Emergency management authorities classified the area under Category 4 on Saturday, representing very high danger for the occurrence and rapid escalation of wildfires. The Category 4 alert reflects dry vegetation conditions and weather parameters that facilitate immediate ignition from vehicular or industrial sources. Ground crews worked along the rural perimeter to prevent the woodland fire from expanding deeper into unburned forest patches. Coordination between municipal water carriers and professional firefighters ensured uninterrupted water delivery to front-line hose teams tackling the flames.

Arson investigation unit deployed

Following the deployment of suppression units, official investigative procedures began to establish the exact cause of the fire. The East Attica Arson Investigation Unit was mobilized directly to the scene on Michail Gkini Street to inspect the burned passenger car. Specialized investigators examined the vehicle remains to evaluate whether mechanical faults, electrical short-circuits, or human actions triggered the initial ignition. The specialized unit also analyzed the surrounding roadside point of origin where the car flames initially transitioned into the brush. Firefighting personnel and municipal crews maintained a defensive presence in Neo Kouvaras through Saturday evening to manage lingering embers and secure the area against potential reignition.