A dangerous adolescent game appears to have sparked a wildfire on Salamis Island near the Prophet Elias hill — the third blaze to break out there within just 24 hours. According to preliminary findings from Greece’s Fire Service, the fire originated at the exact spot where a group of minors had been gathered shortly before ignition.
Video Evidence and Immediate Response
A documentary video aired by ANT1 shows two teenagers calling for help moments after the third fire erupted on the Prophet Elias hillside. One of them — a 14-year-old boy — later recounted the incident to his mother, who immediately contacted authorities. Accompanied by his mother, the teen gave a detailed statement to investigators from the Piraeus branch of the Hellenic Fire Service’s Special Investigation Unit (DAEE).
‘I Called 112 and We Started Running’
Speaking to investigators, the boy described how he and his friend had gone for a walk to the area and were sitting on a bench nearby when the fire broke out. ‘When the fire started on Prophet Elias, I was right there, sitting on a bench,’ he said. ‘I saw my friend running — and behind him, a big fire. I called 112 and we started running.’
During their escape home, the boy said his friend admitted he’d accidentally started the fire while playing with a lighter and pine needles among the trees. ‘He told me he was fooling around with the lighter and the pine needles on the trees,’ the teen recounted. ‘I told my mom exactly what happened, and she said we had to go to the authorities together and tell them everything.’
Forensic Clues at Ground Zero
At the suspected origin point, investigators discovered cigarette butts and empty energy drink cans — physical traces consistent with teenage presence. To corroborate the timeline, they conducted a reenactment: walking the distance from the fire’s likely starting point to the location where a security camera captured the teen’s panicked voice. The timing aligned precisely with the moment the fire ignited.
This case bears similarities to another recent incident — a fire triggered by a viral online ‘challenge’ near the foothills of Mount Pentelicus, which led to formal charges being filed against both the minors involved and their parents.