The firefighting operation continued throughout the night, with crews tackling small active outbreaks in a difficult forested area. Earlier, scheduled shift changes took place, while forest commando teams moved into the surrounding hills to inspect and soak the ground, in order to locate and extinguish any remaining hotspots.

Despite the clear improvement, surveillance operations remain in full swing. Fire engines are being constantly refilled by water tankers, while small plumes of smoke are still being observed in scattered areas, without any active front.

According to the information available so far, the ‘Olympos’ Mobile Operations Centre is expected to be released from the operation, provided the situation remains stable, while a new official update from the Fire Service is expected.

The Fire Service said strong forces were still operating at the fire that broke out at Sfaka, near Oinoi, in the municipality of Mandra, Attica, on Sunday 5 July 2026.

A total of 210 firefighters, ten teams of forest commandos from the 1st Special Forest Operations Unit (EMODE), a number of volunteers and volunteer civil protection groups, as well as 45 fire engines, are operating in the area. Their main objective is to douse the multiple smoking spots still within the perimeter of the fire.

Since the early morning, two aircraft and two helicopters have also been assisting, mainly carrying out surveillance missions in the area.

Water tankers from the Attica Region and the Municipality of Mandra-Eidyllia, as well as project machinery from DIKAFKA, remain at the site.

At the same time, both the ‘Olympos’ Mobile Operations Centre and the Mobile Drone Surveillance Operations Centre continue to operate in the area.

The course of the fire

The fire broke out shortly after 3pm on Sunday afternoon on the old Athens-Thebes national road, near Oinoi. Within a short period it spread to a ravine near Sfaka, in the wider Mandra area, significantly complicating the firefighting operation.

The difficult terrain limited access for ground forces, resulting in continuous aerial operations until about 9pm, with repeated water drops.

During the operation, army tracked vehicles created firebreaks and opened access routes, allowing ground forces to approach the most inaccessible parts of the fire more safely.

Although the flames did not threaten residential areas, shortly after 4pm the 112 emergency alert system was activated, calling on residents to remain on high alert. In the end, it was not considered necessary to evacuate any settlements, as the fire was confined to a forested area, although it caused extensive ecological destruction.

Regarding the causes of the fire, the mayor of Mandra said complaints had been filed alleging that it may have started from a lit cigarette allegedly thrown by a passing driver.

He said the complaint coincided both in time and location with the point where the fire initially broke out. However, there has so far been no official confirmation from the competent authorities, which are continuing to investigate the causes.

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