Fire in Greece Destroys 8,000 Acres of Protected Area

September 11, 2026 · Anadolu Ajansı

A multi-day wildfire in Greece's Northern Pindos National Park has razed 8,000 acres, with reports indicating that the recovery of the devastated fir and black pine forests will take over a century.

Major Devastation in National Park

A forest fire that began on August 31 on Trapezitsa Mountain, located in the Konitsa region of Greece, has destroyed a vast natural ecosystem. According to data from the FireHUB unit of the National Observatory of Athens, the fire, which lasted until September 8, caused severe damage to approximately 8,000 acres. It was noted that the flames affected areas within the boundaries of the European Union's Natura 2000 conservation network and the Northern Pindos National Park. Due to the rugged terrain and limited road access in the area, portable water tanks were delivered to the firefighting teams by helicopter.

Forest Regeneration Will Take a Century

After the fire was brought under control, the extent of the ecological devastation on the ground became clear. Ilias Tziritis, Action Coordinator for WWF Greece, announced that it will take over 100 years for the fir and black pine forests, which were severely hit by the flames, to recover naturally. Emphasizing that fires in high-altitude mountainous areas have been spreading over increasingly larger areas in recent years, Tziritis stated that early intervention mechanisms for these sensitive regions are vital.

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