Arson

A seasonal firefighter is accused of intentionally starting a fire in a forested area in southern Kefalonia on August 13. 

The suspect appeared in court on Wednesday where he was ordered to remain detained and was given time until Friday to present his defense. 

More than 100 people have been arrested for starting fires in 2023, with 10 cases including arson with intent.

In 2020, 313 individuals were charged with negligent arson and 55 with arson with intent, according to data from the Fire Service's Arson Crimes Division made accessible to Kathimerini.

In 2019, 133 people were charged with negligence and 61 with intent.

Individuals who are responsible for starting wildfires even unintentionally will face jail time and much heftier fines, ministers for Justice Giorgos Floridis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias said on Thursday after meeting to discuss new legislation governing arson-related crimes.

People who cause wildfires deliberately or through gross negligence will face stiffer fines and prison sentences under a legal amendment being prepared by the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry, Vassilis Kikilias has said.

The people who cause devastating and sometimes even deadly wildfires every year are effectively not treated like criminals. This is not only because the punishments foreseen in the law are utterly disproportionate to the consequences of their actions.

With the fire in Vilia not extinguished, another fire in Lavreotiki sounded the alarm in the early hours of Friday, but fortunately with a happy ending.

The fire reached a breath from a settlement that fortunately was not in danger, with the mayor of Lavreotiki reporting an arson after a flare.

Evacuation order via 112

Albanian police on Tuesday said 15 people had been arrested for deliberate arson since July 25 in connection to wildfires burning for about two weeks in the country.

The intervention of the Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, Vassilis Pliotas, was caused by the extensive fires throughout Greece and, at the request of the Chief Prosecutor, an investigation is launched immediately, as there are suspicions of deliberate organized criminal activity.

The Prosecutor's order in its entirety

One woman has been arrested for the attempted arson in Athens and one man has been arrested in Kryoneri, among other cases...

Police in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, said on Wednesday that they had arrested a compulsive arsonist.

The 31-year-old man, who was reportedly arrested on Tuesday, is accused of setting some 15 parked cars on fire in Nea Efkarpia from last April up until a few days ago, and of burning two dogs alive in the same area.