Heraklion: Total Destruction of V.I.P.E Business After Massive Fire – Building at Risk of Collapse

The woodworking business ‘Kopidaki’ in the Industrial Area of Heraklion suffered total destruction following a fire that broke out on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The blaze consumed raw materials and machinery, while the building is now at risk of collapse due to the extreme temperatures reached during the incident, according to cretapost.gr. As dawn broke, firefighting teams continued efforts to extinguish remaining small fires inside the structure. Simultaneously, damage assessment began, with experts stating almost everything has been reduced to an unrecognizable mass. Investigators from the Fire Department’s Analytical Unit are on-site determining the cause of the fire, which remains unclear—whether it was an electrical short circuit or arson. Over 20 firefighters, supported by nine vehicles, remain active, ensuring no active flames persist while clearing the area. Continuous water application ensures no rekindling occurs. The extensive firefighting operation involved more than 100 personnel and numerous vehicles, including private water tankers and volunteers, all focused on preventing the fire from spreading to neighboring businesses. Urgent alerts were issued via ‘112’ due to dense smoke enveloping large parts of the industrial zone. The building’s destruction is described as complete.