The fire that broke out at the Paros Sanitary Landfill (Landfill) did not only leave behind another serious environmental incident. It also caused a judicial and political “explosion” , as the investigating authorities proceeded to arrest four people , including the mayor of Paros , the deputy mayor for sanitation , the contractor of the waste management agency and a garbage truck driver of the Municipality , who are now called upon to give explanations before the courts.
The arrests were made after a long investigation by the investigative officers of the Cyclades Arson Crimes Investigation Unit (A.K.A.E.E.) , who attempted to determine under what circumstances the fire broke out, which mobilized powerful ground and aerial firefighting forces. The initial findings of the investigation, according to information, were considered particularly serious, leading the competent Prosecution Authority to activate the immediate procedure.
According to the information gathered so far, within the fenced area where the landfill operates, at a distance of approximately 200 to 300 meters from the main waste management point, an uncontrolled landfill was allegedly created, in which, according to the inspection by the competent services, the required safety and fire protection measures were not observed . If these findings are confirmed by the progress of the investigation, reasonable questions arise about the operation of the facility, the controls that were carried out and the responsibilities of those who supervised it.
The fire initially broke out inside the landfill , but within a short time it spread to an adjacent area with low vegetation, creating a dangerous front and putting the civil protection mechanism on alert. Firefighters fought for many hours to limit its spread, preventing even greater ecological and environmental disaster.
The investigators are examining two main scenarios for the cause of the fire . The first concerns possible spontaneous combustion of the waste, a phenomenon that can occur when the prescribed management procedures are not applied. The second examines the possibility that there was an active combustion center within the mass of waste, which remained uncontrolled until it developed into a large fire. The findings of the experts are expected to play a decisive role in the further course of the case.
Based on the information so far, the Prosecutor’s Office has issued an order for the arrest of the four involved on charges of arson with possible intent , while at the same time an administrative fine of a total of 8,437.50 euros was imposed. The arrested are expected to be brought before the competent prosecutor’s office, where they will be called to answer the charges against them.
The Paros case is not an isolated incident. In just a few days, the investigative services of the Arson Crimes Division made a total of eight arrests for fires in Paros, Heraklion, Evia and Laconia . Two of them concern attempted arson , while the remaining six are related to negligent fire-setting, which reflects the magnitude of the problem in the midst of a particularly difficult fire-fighting season.
In Laconia , a 47-year-old man was arrested, who allegedly caused a fire during hot work with an electric wheel. In Heraklion, Crete , two young men, aged 26 and 24 , were arrested following a citizen’s complaint for attempted arson in a forest area in the Municipality of Gortyna. At the same time, in Eretria, Evia , a 77-year-old man was arrested because, according to the preliminary investigation, he caused a fire through negligence during work with a metal cutting machine, while he was also imposed an administrative fine.
The overall figures published by the Fire Department are revealing. From January 1 to July 29, 2026 , 624 administrative fines have been imposed, totaling 896,725.38 euros , while 232 arrests have been made in the context of the authofor procedure. Of these, 204 concern fires attributed to negligence , while 28 are related to intent .
These numbers show that fires are not solely due to extreme weather conditions. In many cases, human negligence , inadequate safety measures , irresponsible practices or even criminal acts are behind the flames. For this reason, the Fire Department announces that each incident will be thoroughly investigated and that, where evidence of criminal liability arises, those responsible will be brought to justice, regardless of their position or capacity.
In view of the continuation of particularly adverse weather conditions, the competent authorities are issuing a new strict appeal to citizens to avoid any work that may cause sparks or ignition , to strictly adhere to the prohibitions in force depending on the daily hazard index and to immediately inform the authorities of any suspicious activity. As it is pointed out, the protection of the country’s forests and natural wealth is everyone’s responsibility, while the violation of the rules will no longer be treated as a simple omission, but with the severity provided for by law.
