Wildfire Analysis: 55% of Attica-Boeotia Burned in Two Nights

A significant wildfire in the Attica-Boeotia region of Greece destroyed over 61,500 acres, constituting about 55% of the total burnt area, primarily during two nights between July 31 and August 4, 2026. This preliminary analysis comes from the FLAME pyro-meteorological team of the National Observatory of Athens' meteo unit.

The fire, which raged for approximately 91 hours, consumed a total of 111,732 acres. Scientists reconstructed the fire's progression using satellite data of thermal hotspots. The blaze ignited north of Agios Vasileios in Boeotia on the morning of July 31, initially moving towards the coast and burning 15,072 acres in its first ten hours.

A major nocturnal escalation occurred from 7 PM on July 31 to 7 AM on August 1, during which nearly 34,000 acres were destroyed. Particularly strong northern winds, exceeding 80 km/h, played a crucial role in the fire's rapid spread. The following night, from August 1 to August 2, another intense surge saw an additional 27,810 acres burn as winds reached 70 km/h, pushing the fire eastward and then southward.

Over the subsequent two days, the fire's expansion slowed considerably as wind intensity decreased and the fire front approached areas previously burned in 2021. The analysis revealed a distinct pattern: the most intense and rapid spread occurred during the night, while the daytime rate of expansion was noticeably more limited. The total energy released by the fire is estimated at a minimum of 380 terajoules (TJ), reflecting its magnitude.