A fast-moving wildfire that ignited late on July 4, 2026 in a ravine in the mountainous area north of Thessaloniki has forced the evacuation of three Greek suburbs and blanketed the country's second-largest city in toxic smoke, as roughly 96 fires flared across Greece in just two days at the peak of the Mediterranean fire season.
Residents of the small settlements of Anthoupoli, Filothei and Galini were notified by emergency text message to leave their homes as flames spread rapidly through brush and scrubland driven by strong seasonal winds. A residential facility housing 157 people with special needs was also evacuated — about 120 ambulatory residents were sheltered in a gymnasium, while the remainder were relocated to a nearby psychiatric hospital. Flames tore through two industrial facilities including a recycling plant, releasing plumes of hazardous smoke over Thessaloniki that prompted municipal authorities to order city residents to remain indoors with windows shut.
Approximately 115 firefighters and 38 fire engines were deployed to the Thessaloniki fire alone, supported by volunteer crews, water-bombing aircraft, and helicopters. Additional blazes broke out in Attica, on the island of Crete, and near Corinth, prompting further evacuation orders and closing highways. Greek authorities activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to request additional aerial firefighting resources as wildfires continue to burn simultaneously across Portugal, Spain, France and Greece amid the third major heatwave of the summer.
Humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to support displaced residents and evacuated communities. The American Red Cross is coordinating with the Hellenic Red Cross on shelter, water distribution, and psychosocial first aid for evacuees. Global Empowerment Mission is staging relief supplies from its European operations for rapid deployment, and Direct Relief is preparing medical aid and respiratory-support supplies for smoke-affected residents and injured responders.
To support families displaced by the Greek wildfires, donate through the Greece Wildfires disaster page or visit our Relief Directory to find more organizations responding across southern Europe.
