Eleven arrested in Greece for allegedly starting fires

Greek authorities have arrested eleven people in connection with causing fires across the regions of Argolida, Ilia, Serres, Attica, and Lesbos. The arrests highlight ongoing efforts to enforce fire safety regulations amidst high-risk conditions.

In Fichti, Argolida, a large agricultural-forest fire reportedly began from sparks generated during agricultural work involving a tractor and a shredder. Two individuals, a 57-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, were arrested in connection with this incident. Separately, in Katakolo, Ilia, a 34-year-old woman was arrested and fined 3,000 euros for using fireworks near a wooded area, violating fire prevention measures during a high-risk period.

Further arrests were made in Serres, where a foreign national was fined 1,125 euros for starting a fire while burning waste, specifically the plastic casing of electrical wires, near an illegal dumping site. In Attica, two Albanian nationals were arrested and fined 3,750 euros each for performing grinding work near a forest area during a state of extreme fire danger. Another incident in Spata-Artemida, Attica, resulted in the arrest and similar fines for a Greek national and a Romanian national for conducting grinding work under high fire risk conditions.

These arrests underscore the seriousness with which authorities are treating fire prevention, particularly during periods of elevated risk. The incidents involved a range of negligent actions, from agricultural activities to improper waste disposal and construction work, all contributing to the potential for devastating fires.