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Crete's Fire Defense Weakened as Firefighters Sent Across Greece

Thursday, 18 June 2026/Source: Google News/1 min read

Crete is facing pressure on its local firefighting capacity this summer, as regional authorities have raised concerns that the island is being used as a source of personnel to reinforce fire response efforts elsewhere in Greece during the peak fire prevention season. Local official Vatsinás has formally called on Deputy Civil Protection Minister Tournás to address the issue, warning that depleting Crete's firefighting forces puts the island itself at greater risk. Visitors should be aware that wildfire risk is elevated across Crete from June through September. If you are traveling to rural, mountainous, or forested areas such as the White Mountains or the Lasithi Plateau, monitor local alerts, avoid lighting fires outdoors, and follow instructions from local authorities. Check the Greek Civil Protection agency's daily fire risk map before excursions into nature.

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