A wildfire erupted in an agricultural-forestry area near Kalapodi in the regional unit of Phthiotida shortly after 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, 1 July 2026. Residents of the nearby settlements of Sfaka and Zeli received an emergency alert from Greece’s 112 emergency service urging them to remain on standby.
Emergency Response Mobilized
The Hellenic Fire Service responded immediately. According to the official 112 message sent to residents: “Forest fire in the Kalapodi area of Phthiotida. If you are in the local communities of Sfaka and Zeli, remain on standby and follow instructions from authorities.” The message was also shared publicly via the @112Greece Twitter account.
On-site, 56 firefighters are operating — including three infantry teams from the 4th Emergency Response Unit (EMODE), 16 vehicles, nine aircraft, and two helicopters. One helicopter is dedicated to coordinating ground and aerial firefighting efforts. Local authorities have also deployed municipal water tankers to support operations.
Monitoring and Investigation Underway
Throughout the incident, the National Crisis Management Centre (ESKEDIK) is receiving real-time aerial footage from a drone equipped with both optical and thermal imaging cameras. Meanwhile, the Phthiotida Arson Investigation Team has been dispatched to the site to determine the cause of the fire.
According to the national fire risk map, the Kalapodi area is currently classified at Level 3 — indicating high fire danger.