A wildfire broke out in low vegetation and debris at the Elliniko site in Salamis on Tuesday afternoon, 25 August 2026. The area — a former quarry — lies adjacent to the Salamis Naval Base in Attica.
Emergency Response and Evacuation Orders
The Hellenic Fire Service’s Operations Center was alerted to the incident at approximately 4:40 p.m. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., Greece’s national emergency number 112 issued an evacuation advisory for two nearby areas: Ano Vasilika and Nea Salamina (Bizani). Residents were instructed to move toward the Karaiskakis Coast and follow official guidance.
In a tweet posted at 5:03 p.m., @112Greece warned: “🚨 Activation of 112 🆘 Wildfire in your area! If you are in #Ano_Vasilika or #Nea_Salamina (#Bizani) in the Attica region, evacuate immediately toward #Karaiskakis_Coast! Follow instructions from authorities. ℹ️ [link]”
Containment Efforts Underway
By 5:50 p.m., according to Salamis Deputy Mayor Nikos Spernovasilis speaking to ERT, the fire had been largely contained and was under control. A major response force was deployed, including 80 firefighters, three infantry teams from the 1st Mobile Firefighting Unit (EMODE), volunteers, and 25 vehicles. For aerial support, three helicopters and three fixed-wing aircraft were mobilized.
The Municipality of Salamis activated its emergency support protocol, providing water tankers to assist the Fire Service. The area remains under high wildfire risk — classified as Level 3 — according to current fire danger assessments.
Location and Infrastructure Context
Mayor Giorgos Panagopoulos confirmed on ERT that the fire originated within the northern perimeter of the Naval Base. He described the location as the ‘rear side of the hill’, where firefighting teams — both ground-based and aerial — were actively working to prevent further spread. He added that the area is served by municipal water sources and contains no residential buildings.
Throughout the operation, the National Emergency Management and Crisis Coordination Centre (ESKEDIK) monitored the situation in real time using drone footage equipped with thermal and optical imaging.
Investigation Launched
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The Piraeus Arson Investigation Team has been deployed to examine whether criminal arson was involved.