A 70-year-old man was arrested for arson by negligence following a fire that broke out on Wednesday, 9 July 2026, at an agricultural plot in Kalochori, Thessaloniki — located at the intersection of Kapetan Aga and Davaki streets in the Delta municipality.
Accidental Ignition During Pest Control
According to the investigation by the Fire Department’s Arson Investigation Unit, the blaze began when the man used an open flame on a piece of paper in an attempt to drive away wasps. The fire spread rapidly, engulfing nearby storage sheds and causing significant damage.
Emergency Response and Containment
Approximately 30 firefighters responded with 12 vehicles. Support came from municipal and Central Macedonia regional water tankers, as well as an aircraft deployed from the air. Strong winds at the time accelerated the fire’s spread inward across the site, leading to extensive destruction. Preliminary assessments indicate the facility suffered near-total damage.
The Fire Service’s swift intervention prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent facilities and residential areas located behind the site. Firefighters successfully contained the blaze within the facility’s perimeter and continue operations to fully extinguish remaining hotspots.
Legal Consequences
The suspect was arrested on the spot and fined €5,886.56 for violating current fire safety legislation.