Honestly, if you’re looking at a fires in Greece today map right now in mid-January, you’re probably seeing a lot of blue and green rather than the terrifying reds and oranges we saw back in August. It’s Saturday, January 17, 2026, and the vibe in Athens and the islands is currently more about "where’s my umbrella?" than "where’s the nearest evacuation route?"
But here is the thing.
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People think Greece only burns in the summer. That's a mistake. While the massive, forest-consuming monsters usually wait for the meltemi winds of July, fire risk doesn't just vanish because the calendar flipped.
The Current State of the Map (January 2026)
If you pull up the NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System) map today, you might see a few stray dots. Most of these aren't wildfires. In the winter, these "thermal anomalies" are often controlled agricultural burns—farmers clearing branches—or, occasionally, house fires caused by faulty chimneys. Just yesterday, over in Cyprus and parts of Western Greece, the fire services were actually dealing with domestic incidents because everyone is cranking up their fireplaces.
Right now, the big news isn't fire. It's water.
Civil Protection actually put several regions, including Western Greece, Epirus, and the Peloponnese, under a "Red Code" earlier this month. Not for heat, but for severe storms and gale-force winds. Basically, the "danger map" has flipped its script. The ground is saturated.
Why the Map Looks Different This Year
In December 2025, the Greek government finally rolled out the National Forest Fire Risk Assessment Map. This was a huge deal. They hadn't updated the old classification system in nearly 45 years. Can you imagine? Relying on data from the late 70s to fight climate-era fires?
This new map is basically the "brain" of the operation now. It doesn't just show where fires are burning today; it categorizes every single municipality into low, medium, or high-risk zones based on twenty years of data.
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- Attica (around Athens) remains the perennial "high risk" zone due to its mix of pine forests and urban sprawl.
- The Peloponnese is still recovering from the massive tree cover loss of the last decade.
- Crete and the Aegean islands are the current focus for new firebreak zones being cleared during these winter months.
Stop Looking for "Live" Maps on Social Media
You've probably seen those dramatic TikToks or "Live" maps on X (formerly Twitter) that look like the whole country is a charcoal briquette.
Don't trust them.
Most of those "live" maps are either outdated clips from the 2021 Euboea fires or 2024's Athens outskirts blaze, or they are generated by bots trying to farm clicks. If you want the real fires in Greece today map, you go straight to the source: the Hellenic Fire Service or the Civil Protection daily forecast.
During the winter (now), they don't even issue the "Daily Fire Risk Map" because the risk is statistically "Low" (Category 1). That's a good thing. It means the 18,000 firefighters and those 164 brand-new 4x4 vehicles they just bought are currently doing prevention work rather than holding the line.
What Travel in 2026 Actually Looks Like
If you’re planning a trip for later this year, you need to know about the "AIGIS" program. The Greek government is dumping billions into this. We’re talking about 85 aircraft and 80+ drones that now patrol the skies.
They even passed a new law just last week (January 9th) that officially allows for controlled burns. This is a massive shift in Greek policy. For decades, they just let the fuel (dry needles and dead wood) pile up because they were afraid to touch it. Now, they’re finally fighting fire with fire—literally—during these cold months to make sure July isn't a disaster.
Actionable Advice for Travelers and Residents
- Download the "112 Greece" App: This is the emergency alert system. If a fire starts near your Airbnb, your phone will scream at you in both Greek and English. It’s literally a lifesaver.
- Watch the Winds, Not Just the Heat: Fires in Greece aren't just about the 40°C heat. It’s the "Beaufort" scale. If you see a map showing high winds in the Aegean (8 or 9 Beaufort) alongside dry conditions, that's when you stay frosty.
- Check the "Burnt Area" Layers: If you're hiking in places like Mount Parnitha or Northern Evia, use a map layer that shows "Burn Scars." These areas are prone to flash floods in January and February because there are no trees left to hold the soil.
- Respect the Winter Burns: If you see smoke in the distance right now, don't panic. It's likely a farmer. But if you're unsure, calling 199 (the Fire Service) is always the right move.
The most important thing to remember is that the "map" is a living thing. Today, it tells a story of recovery and preparation. In six months, it might look very different. But for now, the Greek landscape is breathing, soaking up the winter rain, and getting ready for another intense summer.
If you are looking for the most reliable real-time satellite data, stick to the Copernicus EFFIS (European Forest Fire Information System). It’s the gold standard that the pros use.