Greece: 14-year-old admits starting wildfire during dangerous game

A wildfire that erupted on the Prophet Elias hill in Salamina, Greece, appears to have been started by minors engaged in a dangerous game, according to fire service investigations. This is the third fire to hit Salamina in just a few days.

Video footage shows teenagers calling for help immediately after the blaze began. A 14-year-old boy, accompanied by his mother, provided a statement to investigators detailing how the fire started. He described being at the scene with a friend when the fire broke out.

"When the fire started on Prophet Elias, I was nearby, sitting on a bench. My friend and I had gone for a walk there. When the fire started, I saw my friend running, with a big fire behind him. I called 112 and we started running. On the way home, my friend told me he accidentally started the fire," the boy recounted. He explained his friend was playing with a lighter and pine needles in the trees.

“

When the fire started on Prophet Elias, I was nearby, sitting on a bench. My friend and I had gone for a walk there. When the fire started, I saw my friend running, with a big fire behind him. I called 112 and we started running. On the way home, my friend told me he accidentally started the fire. He was playing with a lighter and pine needles in the trees.

"I told my mother exactly what happened, and she told me we had to go to the authorities together to tell them what happened," he added. Investigators discovered cigarette butts and energy drink cans at the site. They also recreated the events, measuring the time from the fire's origin to where a security camera captured the youths' voices, which matched the fire's ignition time.

The incident bears resemblance to a dangerous fire-starting challenge that occurred at the foot of Mount Pentelicus, for which a case is being compiled against minors and their parents.

“

I told my mother exactly what happened, and she told me we had to go to the authorities together to tell them what happened.