Fire extinguished in Kritsa, Lasithi

Firefighters successfully extinguished a fire that broke out in an agricultural and forest area in Kritsa, Lasithi, Crete, within a rapid 40-minute timeframe. The Fire Service was alerted to the incident around 9:15 PM on August 16, 2026. The area was experiencing a very high fire risk, categorized as level 4, necessitating increased patrols and a swift response.

Upon receiving the notification, the Operations Center of the Fire Service mobilized significant resources. A total of 48 firefighters, supported by two specialized hiking teams from the 3rd EMAK (Special Unit for Disaster Response), and 16 vehicles were deployed to combat the blaze. Water tankers from the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos also provided crucial assistance to the firefighting efforts.

An alert message was issued via the 112 emergency number to inform residents in the wider vicinity of the fire. The investigative unit for arson crimes in Lasithi has been activated to determine the cause of the fire. The prompt and efficient response by the emergency services prevented the fire from spreading further, particularly given the high-risk conditions.