A wildfire raging across the Greek region of Evia has prompted the deployment of British firefighters under the European Union’s mutual aid mechanism, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The blaze, fanned by gale-force winds, has consumed more than 12,000 hectares of forestland and forced the evacuation of six coastal villages since igniting on Monday afternoon.
The British contingent, comprising 50 personnel and specialised firefighting vehicles, arrived in Athens early this morning before being dispatched to the front line. They join teams from France, Italy, and Spain, which have also activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The operation underscores the bloc’s growing capacity for cross-border crisis response, though it has also exposed persistent resource strains.
Greek fire service spokesman Minister Vassilis Vathrakogiannis described conditions as “extremely dangerous”. “We are dealing with a fire of unprecedented intensity for this time of year,” he said. Thermometer readings alongside the fire front have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, with humidity dropping below 15 per cent. Local emergency services have issued five evacuation alerts since Monday night.
The British government’s decision to send firefighters follows a formal request from Athens on Monday. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis telephoned UK counterpart Sir Keir Starmer to request assistance under the terms of the EU’s bilateral emergency protocol, which Britain retained following Brexit. Downing Street confirmed the deployment in a statement late on Monday, emphasising that it reflects “the UK’s enduring commitment to European solidarity”.
However, the move has drawn criticism from some Conservative backbenchers who argue that domestic fire services remain understaffed. The Fire Brigades Union warned last week that budget cuts had reduced frontline capacity by 15 per cent since 2010. A spokesperson for the Home Office said the deployment would not compromise domestic response times, noting that the deployed units are from a dedicated international pool.
The wildfire is the latest in a series of Mediterranean blazes that scientists attribute to climate change. Greece experienced its hottest June on record, with temperatures 3.5 degrees above the historical average. The fire in Evia, an island north-east of Athens, is proving particularly difficult to contain due to rugged terrain and strong meltemi winds.
Efforts on the ground have been hampered by limited water-bombing aircraft. Greece operates a fleet of 12 Canadair CL-415 planes, but two are currently undergoing maintenance. A European Commission-funded fleet of six aircraft is due to be stationed in the region by 2026, but this has yet to be operationalised.
Evacuees have been taken to shelters in the town of Istiaia and to hotels in Volos. The Greek government has announced emergency compensation of €800 per household for those who lost property. Insurance companies estimate total economic losses could exceed €200 million.
The deployment is expected to last up to 14 days, subject to a review by the EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. British firefighters are working alongside Greek counterparts to establish containment lines near the village of Vassilika, which remains under threat.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, the fire had not been brought under control. Meteorologists forecast a shift in wind direction overnight, which could bring relief but also the risk of ember attacks on new areas.
