Israeli arrested for allegedly lighting barbecue at rented villa, sparking wildfire in Crete

A 35-year-old Israeli tourist faces charges in Crete after allegedly starting a wildfire by using a barbecue at a rented vacation villa. The suspect was arrested on Saturday and is expected to appear before a judge to determine an extension of his detention. The fire broke out on Friday evening near the village of Sellia in southern Rethymno.

According to Greek media, the fire originated in the yard of the villa where a group of Israeli tourists was staying. Investigators suspect the guests lit a barbecue despite strong winds and explicit warnings. The villa owner reportedly provided written instructions prohibiting barbecue use due to the high fire risk. Sparks from the grill are believed to have ignited dry vegetation, leading to the rapid spread of the fire.

Over 60 firefighters, along with specialized units, vehicles, helicopters, and volunteers, worked for about four hours to control the blaze. This incident occurs amidst a particularly severe wildfire season in Greece. Just two weeks prior, a major fire in the same Rethymno area burned approximately 45,000 dunams, requiring the evacuation of over 8,000 residents and tourists. Two firefighters died during those operations, which were hampered by extreme winds.