Greece is one of the favorite destinations for summer vacation due to its natural beauty, warm sea, and Mediterranean ambiance. However, during the summer months, especially from May to October, this country faces an increased risk of wildfires.

During the season, Greece is visited by over 45 million tourists, and it is extremely important that everyone knows how to behave responsibly and avoid causing fires through risky actions. Just one wrong move is enough!

For tourists planning a trip to Greece, it is important to be aware of these risks, know the rules of behavior, and understand how they can contribute to fire prevention.

Why are fires frequent in Greece and Serbia?

Greece’s geographical location has a warm and dry climate, which was once a blessing of the Mediterranean climate. Unfortunately, with the global increase in temperatures and the more frequent occurrence of extremely strong winds, along with the increase in the number of tourists visiting, the number of fires across Greece has also increased.

Human Factor:

Most fires are caused by human carelessness or unintentional actions - discarded cigarettes, lighting fires in prohibited areas, parking on grass, or technical malfunctions.

Installations:

Damage to electrical installations - sparks from busbars, transformer stations, or cables often trigger fires that spread rapidly.

Cars on dry grass:

A car parked on dry grass or low vegetation can easily start a fire.
Greek authorities highlight this as one of the main fire prevention measures.

Warm and dry climate:

During summer, temperatures often exceed 35°C and reach up to 40°C, with dry vegetation and strong summer droughts creating conditions for easy fire spread.

Natural landscape:

Pine forests and dense vegetation are present on many islands and in continental regions, representing potential “fuel.”

All of this makes Greece an irresistible destination for tourists, so let’s consider what rules we need to adopt to preserve it together.

What are the rules and fire prevention measures for tourists?

1. Lighting fires outdoors is strictly prohibited

From May to October, lighting fires in nature, including barbecues and campfires, is strictly prohibited. Not even on the beach! A single spark from a barbecue can be carried by the wind to dry leaves at the edge of the beach, leading to an uncontrolled chain reaction, i.e., a fire. Exceptions exist only in designated areas, but our recommendation is to avoid even that.

2. NEVER discard cigarette butts in nature

Even the smallest spark can start a fire. Dispose of cigarette butts only in proper containers.
NEVER discard an old lighter in nature, as it can explode and cause a spark that ignites a fire.

3. Never park your car on dry grass\, pine needles\, or low vegetation

Park only on concrete, asphalt, gravel, or clear ground. Greek authorities emphasize this as one of the main fire prevention measures.
The vehicle’s exhaust system is extremely hot. When a car runs for some time, the exhaust pipe (muffler) and surrounding parts (catalytic converter, rear silencer) can reach temperatures over 500°C. If the vehicle is parked directly on dry grass, leaves, or pine needles, this temperature is enough to ignite flammable material.
Rims and brakes also radiate heat. During driving (especially downhill or in traffic), the brakes and rims heat up significantly. If the car is parked for a long time on uncovered, dry ground, it can ignite the low vegetation beneath the vehicle.

3. Avoid releasing flying lanterns and fireworks

These activities are prohibited as they easily start fires, especially in dry conditions.

4. Strictly dispose of trash in bins - even the most harmless items

Other items can start a fire in nature: a mirror, glass bottle, jar, glass of any kind… All of these can produce a flammable spark when combined with the hot sun. Greek authorities state that trash should not be thrown into containers in nature or beside roads during the summer, as it carries a risk - whether an animal overturns a container and its contents are exposed to the sun, or a flammable spark (lighter, deodorant, etc.) is present and ignites a fire.

5. Follow local weather conditions and warnings

Greek authorities regularly issue warnings about the risk of fires. When the fire risk level is in category 3 (marked in orange), orders are issued to close roads to forested areas. This often upsets tourists who planned to visit a beach accessible through a forest road, but understand that this is for everyone’s good. So, follow the information we publish on social media or directly on the Greek Civil Protection website or local sources.

In case of a fire - immediately call emergency services

If you notice any smoke or fire, report it immediately. It can be the emergency intervention number or the owner of the accommodation you are staying in, or someone in the nearest house. It is important that information about the fire reaches the authorities as soon as possible so that they can dispatch a team to the scene and respond promptly. Report it, you might just save thousands of trees and animals living in the forest.

The emergency intervention number in Greece is 112.

Also, follow the instructions of local authorities and firefighters.

How can tourists help preserve nature?

Adhere to the rules mentioned above.
Respect the rules and bans in place during high-risk periods.
Report any smoke or fires.
Inform other tourists and local residents about the dangers.
Participate in local initiatives and volunteer actions if you have the opportunity.

Fire protection measures recommended by Greek authorities (from the official website of the Greek Civil Protection)

Recommendations are taken from the website of the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece, the section on protection from wildfires:
If you notice a fire - immediately call the fire department (199 or 112) and explain:

  • the exact location
  • point and direction of fire spread
  • type of vegetation burning

If the fire is approaching your property:

  • Stay calm
  • Remove flammable materials around the property (at least 10 meters radius)
  • Close windows, doors, chimneys, and awnings to prevent sparks from entering
  • Turn off gas installations and other sources of fuel
  • Ensure access to firefighting vehicles by opening the gate or access

These measures are only in extreme cases and are listed for tourists who may be alone in villas. From years of experience, owners will make every effort to ensure that their guests are secure and safe, we have no doubt about that.

Special case: Thassos and other Greek islands

Islands like Thassos have rich nature but also a special risk of fires due to dense pine forests and summer droughts. The local community is very engaged, and numerous volunteers on the islands help in fire prevention and extinguishment. On Thassos, each place has one volunteer who will leave everything behind and go to help in the event of a fire in his vicinity and the agreed region according to pre-arranged rules (notification, location determination, calling for help).

All of us who come to Thassos for its beauty can contribute to the preservation of the island by respecting simple rules.

Other islands are organized similarly.

It is especially important for tourists to follow local recommendations, use permitted accesses, and avoid moving in closed or dangerous areas during active fires.

Useful links and contacts

Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece -
guidelines on wildfires:

Emergency services in Greece - phone numbers and contact details

Everyone in the affected areas will receive information about measures via an automatic message on their phone. The notification is in Greek and English, but you can always copy the text and translate it on Google to stay informed.

Understanding the risks and adhering to fire prevention rules are crucial parts of safe and responsible tourism in Greece. Aware tourists help preserve the unique nature and safety of all those who enjoy this beautiful country during the summer.

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