Greek authorities have arrested a 49-year-old man after a fire broke out in Aianteio, Salamina, at around 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Arson Crime Investigation Units of the Hellenic Fire Service determined that sparks from hot work using an electric welding device caused the fire.
The flames burned dry grass and low vegetation across an area of approximately 100 square metres.
Investigators from the Piraeus Arson Crime Investigation Unit arrested the 49-year-old under the automatic-flagrancy procedure on suspicion of arson through negligence.
Authorities also imposed an administrative fine of €2,594.23.
The man will appear before the competent prosecutor on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Hundreds of fines and arrests this year
The Fire Service said that between January 1 and August 23, 2026, authorities had issued 737 administrative finesworth a combined €1,198,080.68.
They had also made 310 arrests under the automatic-flagrancy procedure.
Of those arrests:
- 276 (89.03%) involved alleged negligence.
- 34 (10.97%) involved alleged intentional acts.
The Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes and the Fire Service’s investigative units remain on heightened operational readiness, conducting intensive inspections and taking immediate action when they identify violations.
Fire Service warns against spark-producing work
The Fire Service again stressed that human negligence remains the leading cause of wildfires.
It urged citizens to follow fire-safety measures and avoid work that could produce sparks or trigger an ignition, particularly during periods of elevated fire danger.
Authorities also warned that worsening weather conditions, including high temperatures and stronger winds, increase the risk of fires.
The Fire Service urged residents to check their area’s daily fire-risk level through the Fire Risk Forecast Map issued by Greece’s General Secretariat for Civil Protection and to follow the instructions of the competent authorities.
