Wildfires that broke out on Sunday afternoon in northern Chios continue to rage out of control, with firefighters battling flames through the night. A total of 190 firefighters and 38 vehicles are now operating on the island, supported from first light by four aircraft and one helicopter.
Residents and firefighters worked through the night to protect homes as strong winds hampered containment efforts. Large parts of Chios, including areas north of the main town, remain without power since Sunday afternoon.
Firefighting teams focused their efforts overnight on the southern and southwestern fronts near Chalkios and Dafnonas, while the northern front outside Vrontados continued to burn through the suburban zone. According to the Fire Service, the flames have spread across forest and farmland alike, with unconfirmed reports of homes being destroyed.
Speaking to protothema.gr, Chios Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Sport, Giorgos Christakis, confirmed the fire had moved from Vrontados toward the former leper colony in Kofinas. “Fire crews are now operating in that area,” he said, noting that Vrontados has been without electricity for hours, complicating daily life and emergency coordination.
Three main fronts are burning:
- From Vrontados, Agios Markos and Agios Makarios — areas that have triggered multiple emergency evacuation alerts via 112
- From Korakari, moving both toward central Chios and southward
- In Agios Makarios, flames reached the first homes, with residents and volunteers using any means available to stop the fire’s advance.
Despite coordinated firefighting efforts using 14 aircraft during the day, once aerial support was grounded due to darkness, strong winds reignited and spread the blazes further. Reinforcements from Thessaloniki and Piraeus arrived at dawn, including 10 fire trucks and 20 firefighters aboard Superrunner Jet 2 and a further 5 trucks, 35 firefighters, and a bus via Ariadni.
Chios MP Notis Mitarakis and Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas are coordinating the response from the Ministry’s operations centre. Mitarakis confirmed that 11 helicopters remain stationed on Chios and resumed operations from 6am Monday.
A series of evacuation alerts have been sent via the 112 emergency system, including the most recent at 10.30pm Sunday, instructing residents in Agios Makarios to head toward Vrontados Beach. Another alert at 10:00pm called for evacuations from Agios Markos Vrontados.
Earlier, residents of the following areas were ordered to evacuate: Karyes, Varvasi, Evreti, Vavylous, Dafnonas, Ververato, Chalkios, Vasileoniko, Grous, Zifias, Agios Panteleimon, Kastromina, Paryfes, Gialourika, and Panagia Voitheia.
A specialised Arson Crimes Unit has been deployed to Chios by order of the Fire Department Chief. Working with Chios State Security, the team is investigating the possibility of coordinated arson, as multiple fires broke out in close succession.
Weather conditions are expected to improve from Tuesday, with a gradual weakening of winds forecast—a much-needed development for fire crews and residents alike.
Special forest firefighting units (the “Dasokomandoi”) arrived on the island from Athens and Thessaloniki by military aircraft. These elite teams will join local forces overnight to try to bring the fires under control before daylight. Reinforcements from Piraeus are also en route, including both ground crews and aerial resources, which were grounded at nightfall.
One of the most dangerous fronts is near the southwest of Chios town, where steep rocky terrain is complicating access and operations.
In total, fires erupted in Kofinas, the area of Agia Anna, and Agios Makarios in Vrontados, all within a 2km radius and under 45 minutes apart.
This has led authorities to investigate the possibility of coordinated arson, AMNA reported. All three ignition points were located near electricity lines, adding to suspicions.
Residents of multiple areas, including Dafnonas, Ververato, Chalkios, Vasileoniko, Grous, and Zifias, were earlier ordered to evacuate. New messages advised those in Karyes, Varvasi, Evreti, and Vavyloi to move toward safer coastal zones or the city of Chios itself.
