Fire in Oriakastro near Thessaloniki destroyed industrial facilities, forced residents to evacuate and blanketed the region in thick smoke. The investigation is looking into how the disaster began.
The large fire in Oriakastro near Thessaloniki, which began on the evening of July 4 and continued into the night of July 5, was not just another summer fire. The fire passed through the territory near the industrial zone, engulfing enterprises, warehouses and facilities related to the processing of materials. A thick cloud of acrid smoke rose over the western part of Thessaloniki, which was then carried by the wind far to the south, all the way to Attica and the Peloponnese.
On the morning of July 5, firefighters continued to work on isolated outbreaks, primarily in the area of the recycling plant. The flame periodically returned, and extinguishing was complicated by strong winds, a large amount of flammable materials and night time, when the use of aircraft is limited.
Fire among factories and warehouses
The fire broke out in the agro-forest zone near Oriakastra, but quickly approached industrial facilities. Businesses and outbuildings were damaged, and serious damage to processing facilities, warehouses and production facilities was reported. At some points during the night fire, explosions were heard, which increased the anxiety of residents and complicated the work of emergency services.
Residential buildings in Filotea, according to preliminary data, were largely protected. The fire approached individual courtyards and destroyed temporary structures, but mass destruction of the housing stock was avoided. This is perhaps the only good news in a story where everything else looked like another test of the country’s ability to survive the summer.
Evacuation, 112 messages and fear of residents
Consecutive messages were sent to residents of areas threatened by fire and smoke through the 112 system. People were ordered to leave dangerous areas, and where evacuation was not required, to remain indoors, close doors, windows and turn off ventilation.
The evacuation was difficult. According to representatives of local authorities, some residents did not want to leave their homes. Their reaction can hardly be called inexplicable: for a person who sees a fire next to their home, the request “leave, everything is under control” sounds convincing until he remembers how many times similar promises in Greece ended in ashes on the site of the property.
About 160 firefighters, five foot units and 52 fire engines participated in the firefighting effort. At dawn, air assets were brought in, as well as equipment from municipalities, the region, volunteers and army units. Police forces and ΕΚΑΒ were on the scene.
Why it caught fire: the investigation’s version and the release of a 76-year-old
The fire service announced the arrest of a 76-year-old man. According to the initial investigation, his car ended up in the area where the fire started after leaving the road; Investigators are considering the possibility that when trying to remove the car, sparks could have occurred, which could have set the dry vegetation on fire.
A number of publications also reported on possible dangerous maneuvers of the car. The man’s car was found at the scene and burned out. However, it is too early to draw a final judicial verdict from the preliminary versions: after being brought to the prosecutor, the 76-year-old was released, and the prosecutor’s office instructed the Fire Service to conduct a preliminary investigation.
The investigation must establish the exact mechanism of the fire, the extent of the damage, the status of the burned area, possible damage to infrastructure, and whether other parties are responsible in this case. At the same time, the question of how prepared the industrial zone was for such a development of events is also being considered.
Toxic smoke: the problem extends far beyond Oriakastra
The main consequence of the fire was not only material damage. Due to the burning of recycled and industrial materials, a dense cloud of smoke formed over Thessaloniki. Experts warned about the dangers of fine particles and toxic combustion products.
According to monitoring data and media reports, the smoke plume moved south and reached Attica and then parts of the Peloponnese. The Athens News previously detailed how to protect against such air pollution: people were advised not to exercise outside, keep windows closed, use the air conditioner in recirculation mode and especially closely monitor the well-being of children, the elderly and people with respiratory diseases.
Where human error ended and systemic problem began
Even if the preliminary version of sparks from the car is confirmed, the story does not end there. One human mistake can start a fire. But the scale of the disaster is determined by other things: the state of firebreaks, access to special equipment, the density of hazardous industries, the availability of water, the readiness of enterprises for a fire and the speed of coordination between the state, region and municipalities.
In Oriakastra, the fire quickly became close to industrial sites where materials were burning that could produce thick and potentially dangerous smoke. And this again raises an inconvenient question: why is summer in Greece met every year as an unpredictable natural disaster, although heat, wind, dry vegetation and fire danger zones have existed here for centuries.
The fire was localized, but the complete elimination of individual fires continued even after the immediate threat to residential areas had disappeared. Final data on the damage, environmental consequences and causes of the fire should be published after the investigation is completed.
The material will be updated as official conclusions from the Fire Service and the Prosecutor’s Office are received.
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