Wildfires in Greece: what travellers need to know and what to do
Greece's fire season is mostly summer. Here's how to follow official alerts and what to do if a fire breaks out near you.
- Fire risk rises in summer, especially July and August, on hot, windy days.
- Official alerts come as a 112 message to your phone. Emergency number 112; report a fire on 199.
- The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection publishes a daily fire risk map.
A wildfire in Greece is usually local and rarely ruins a holiday, but follow the alerts, keep your passport on you and obey evacuation orders immediately.
Where are the fires in Greece now?
Every summer Greece has forest fires, usually in wooded areas on hot, windy days. Most are local and contained quickly; some are large and force evacuations of villages and resorts. We report significant fires in Yavanet's news, but the authorities are always the binding source.
How to get official alerts
- 112 message: in an emergency, Greece's alert system sends a message to every phone in the area, including foreign phones on roaming, in Greek and English. If it says evacuate, do so immediately.
- No smartphone? Register with Greece's Emergency Communications Service for SMS, email or voice alerts.
- Daily fire risk map: the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection publishes a map of next-day risk by region.
- Civil Protection and the Fire Service post updates on social media.
Emergency numbers
| What | Number |
|---|---|
| General emergency | 112 |
| Report a fire (Fire Service) | 199 |
| Athens airport information | +30 210 353 0000 |
Source: U.S. Mission Greece wildfire notice (June 2026). Israeli embassy contacts: Israeli embassy in Athens.
What to do if a fire is near your hotel
- Follow instructions from police, fire service and civil protection.
- Keep your passport and documents on you and your phone charged.
- Expect road closures, power cuts and smoky air; leave extra time for flights.
- Check with your airline about changes.
- Let family at home know you're safe.
Planning a summer trip
- Travel insurance: check it covers cancellation or curtailment for natural disasters.
- Forest walks: on high-risk days forests can be closed. Check the risk map. Jeep tours may be cancelled too: jeep safaris in Greece.
- Open fires are banned in the countryside in summer with heavy fines.
- Heat: Greece weather, Greece in July and Greece in August.
Is it safe to travel to Greece in fire season?
In most cases, yes. Fires hit specific areas for a limited time and most tourists never encounter one. See also is Greece safe for Israelis.
FAQ
How do I know where there are fires in Greece? Through 112 phone alerts, Civil Protection's daily fire risk map, and Fire Service and news updates.
What is the emergency number in Greece? 112 for any emergency, 199 to report a fire.
Will a 112 alert reach a foreign phone? Alerts go to all phones in the danger zone, including those on roaming.
When is fire season in Greece? Risk rises in summer, especially July and August, on hot, windy days.
