After three intense days of firefighting, the wildfire that ravaged Chios has finally been brought under control. As of Wednesday morning, there are no active fire fronts, though firefighting forces remain on high alert for possible flare-ups.
60,000 acres scorched
According to satellite data from Copernicus’ rapid mapping service, the fire spread across a vast area from Vrontados to Vessa and Lithí, destroying over 60,000 acres of land, forests, and agricultural zones. Among the worst-hit were mastic trees and olive groves, critical to the island’s economy and identity.
Drone footage captured by local media shows a landscape utterly transformed. The forests that once provided shade, silence, and balance have been reduced to ash. For the first time in recent history, the flames entered suburban and urban areas, approaching homes and terrifying entire neighbourhoods.
Watch drone footage of the damage:
Residents allege arson
From early on, residents and officials voiced suspicions of arson. The fire was unusual in its pattern, with multiple ignition points erupting in quick succession- a red flag, according to authorities.
“The island is blackened,” said Nikos Nychtas, Deputy Governor of Chios. “A whole mountain range has burned. I believe the Fire Service and the special arson unit have evidence. The question is whether we’ll catch them, and how we can protect ourselves. We can’t go on like this.”
Pyrometeorologist Theodoros Giannaros warned that the situation was made worse by the fire moving through areas that had already burned in the past, and criticised the lack of comprehensive data and fire behaviour modelling: “If we don’t know how the fire moves, we can’t learn anything for the future.”
Arrest for negligent arson
One arrest has already been made. A Georgian woman employed as a domestic worker was detained and reportedly confessed to unintentionally causing one of the five fire fronts that broke out on the island.
According to police sources, the woman admitted that on 23 June, while throwing out rubbish in the Leptopoda area, she stubbed out a cigarette on the ground. She claimed she tried to extinguish it with her foot, but the fire broke out minutes later. A colleague’s testimony led to her identification.
She faces charges of negligent arson, and the incident is still under investigation.
Air quality affected across the Aegean
Smoke from the wildfire spread well beyond Chios. Data from AtmoHub and the Meteosat MSG satellite showed smoke drifting south across the Aegean, affecting Mykonos, Paros, Ios and Naxos. The FLEXPART model confirmed the widespread atmospheric impact.
A burnt landscape, and a warning
Beyond the numbers and arrests, the fire has left a psychological and environmental scar on Chios. Local forests that had endured for decades were wiped out in hours. Long-protected ecosystems, agricultural livelihoods, and entire communities have been shaken.
As one report put it:
“A world has ended: violently, and in ash.”
Firefighting teams remain stationed across the island in case of reignition, but for now, the emergency phase appears to be over. What comes next is recovery… and accountability.
Also read: Wildfire in Chios threatens historic mastichochoria
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