Forest fire in Greece largely contained after deadly helicopter collision

A major forest fire in Greece was largely brought under control on Monday after calmer winds allowed firefighters to gain the upper hand following four days of intense firefighting. The disaster was overshadowed by a midair collision between two firefighting helicopters on Sunday that killed two crew members and highlighted the risks faced by emergency responders during one of Europe’s most severe wildfire seasons in recent years.

The fire burned more than 10,000 hectares of forests and farmland after erupting on Friday near Agios Vasileios in the Boeotia region. It spread south toward the coastline and the pine-covered mountains of western Attica, forcing large-scale evacuations and causing extensive damage.

Two leased Bell helicopters were operating over the coastal area of Psatha, about 65 kilometers northwest of Athens, when one aircraft’s rotor blades appeared to strike the underside of the other, according to videos circulating on social media. One helicopter caught fire and crashed into a ravine, while the second made an emergency landing.

The victims were identified as a Greek fire service liaison officer and a Danish pilot. A British pilot and a Greek coordinator aboard the second helicopter survived with minor injuries and were taken to hospital for observation. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences, describing the loss as a tragedy for the country.

Investigators concluded that the wildfire was sparked by defective power lines connected to a private transmission network carrying electricity from wind farms. Greek fire authorities said sparks from vibrating electrical conductors ignited the blaze.

An electrical engineer who designed the project and a contractor responsible for building the transmission network were arrested and face criminal arson charges. Authorities also issued an arrest warrant for the owner of the wind energy company. Faulty electrical infrastructure has become one of the leading causes of major wildfires in Greece in recent years.

More than 1,000 residents were evacuated from affected communities. More than 250 people were rescued by boat after flames and heavy smoke cut off the limited coastal road network. The wildfire destroyed more than 100 homes and threatened an industrial zone near Megara.

As winds that had reached speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour weakened on Monday, aerial firefighting operations resumed at full capacity. Five water-bombing aircraft and five helicopters joined about 500 firefighters on the ground, including 46 volunteers from France and Romania. Officials said the improving weather significantly strengthened containment efforts.

Greek Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis Kostas Katsafados said emergency services were confronting increasingly difficult conditions driven by climate change.

The helicopter collision capped a difficult week for Greece’s emergency services. Three firefighters died in separate incidents in Crete and the Peloponnese on July 29. On the island of Kefalonia, police arrested a 44-year-old man suspected of deliberately starting another wildfire that forced additional evacuations.

The forest fire in Greece is part of a broader wildfire crisis affecting southern Europe. Fires in France and Spain have displaced nearly one-third of a million people this summer, following a devastating 2025 wildfire season in which more than 10,000 square kilometers burned across the continent.