Major Wildfire Threatens Forest Near Kalymnos Village

Firefighters are battling a major wildfire that broke out on the island of Kalymnos late Wednesday night, with authorities racing to stop the flames before they reach a nearby pine forest.

The fire ignited shortly after 10:30 p.m. near the Thermal Springs (Thermopiges) area, prompting a large emergency response as crews worked through the night to contain the blaze.

Officials are focusing their efforts on preventing the fire from spreading into the pine forest that stretches toward the settlement of Agios Vasileios. Authorities warned that if the flames reach the dense woodland, firefighting operations will become significantly more difficult.

Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Kalymnos Mayor Giannis Mastrokoukos described the situation as critical.

“If the fire moves just a few more metres and reaches the pine forest, I don’t know what will happen,” the mayor said.

According to Mastrokoukos, the fire is advancing toward the upper section of the Thermal Springs area, while the pine forest extends as far as Agios Vasileios.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, weather conditions have offered some encouragement, with relatively light winds helping firefighters in their efforts to contain the blaze.

Strong ground firefighting crews remain at the scene, while additional reinforcements are expected. Authorities said the coming hours will be crucial in determining whether crews can stop the fire before it reaches the forest and threatens the island’s natural environment.

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