A 70-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison—without suspension—for negligently starting a fire last Thursday in Kalochori, a suburb of Thessaloniki. According to court documents, he lit a piece of paper in an attempt to drive away wasps nesting in a sieve near his field. The Thessaloniki Misdemeanor Court found him guilty of negligent arson and did not apply any mitigating circumstances.
Prison Term Suspended Pending Appeal
The enforcement of the sentence was provisionally suspended pending the outcome of an appeal to a higher court. Following the ruling, the defendant filed an appeal and was released from custody.
Significant Damage to Nearby Businesses
The fire reportedly began in the man’s field, initially consuming dry grass and waste before spreading to two adjacent commercial properties. The resulting damage was extensive. The owner of the first business estimated losses at €400,000, stating: ‘My entire business was completely destroyed—including all inventory: plumbing supplies, tools, and irrigation equipment.’
The second business owner placed damages above €1 million. He recounted being in his office when he noticed smoke and saw flames engulfing the neighboring field. ‘I immediately ordered staff to evacuate the building,’ he said. ‘The facilities, offices, computers, and hygiene products inventory were all totally destroyed.’
Apology and Explanation
The defendant publicly apologized to those affected and accepted responsibility. In court, he explained: ‘I wanted to clean out my chicken coop and saw a wasp nest in a sieve. I lit a piece of paper to scare them off—but it fell and started the fire. I tried to put it out, but couldn’t control it.’ His lawyer added that the field had been cleared of dry vegetation prior to the incident.
In addition to the criminal conviction, the Hellenic Fire Service imposed an administrative fine of €5,886.56 on the man for causing the blaze.