‘Israeli’ tourist arrested in Greece over wildfire sparked by BBQ

A 35-year-old ‘Israeli’ tourist was arrested in Crete on suspicion of starting a wildfire after lighting a barbecue at a rented villa during a high fire-risk period, Greek authorities said.

The blaze erupted at 7:11 PM on Friday, August 14, near the village of Sellia in the municipality of Agios Vasileios, southern Rethymno, close to the resort of Plakias.

Investigators from the Greek Fire Service’s arson unit determined that the fire began in the yard of the vacation villa where a group of ‘Israeli’ tourists was staying.

Strong winds carried embers from the grill into dry vegetation, allowing the flames to spread rapidly and damage olive groves while briefly threatening nearby properties.

More than 60 firefighters, three special wildfire units, vehicles, helicopters, water tankers and volunteers responded.

Greece’s 112 emergency system issued alerts and ordered the precautionary evacuation of the communities of Fotinari and Souda.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control after about four hours; it did not spread over a large area.

The villa owner had warned the guests upon arrival that, due to the high fire risk, using a barbecue was completely prohibited and provided the instructions in writing.

Despite the warnings and an island-wide burn ban during the elevated-risk period, the group allegedly lit the grill.

The 35-year-old man, who works in the information-technology sector and was vacationing with family members, was arrested on Saturday under Greece’s flagrante delicto procedure and charged with arson with possible intent (or negligent arson).

On Tuesday, he appeared before an investigative judge in Rethymno.

After giving his statement, he was released under restrictive conditions: a €10,000 guarantee and the obligation to present himself once a month at the Greek Embassy in Tel Aviv. No trial date has yet been set.

The suspect denied any responsibility.

He maintained that he received no clear verbal or written instruction forbidding use of the grill in strong winds, only a brief note “in the fine print” on a board that also listed the Wi-Fi password.

His lawyer, Evangelos Fanourgakis, said the defence presented evidence that the fire started some 50–60 metres away across clear ground with no continuous burn trail, and that other nearby villas were not checked.

“With the decision of the judicial authorities to release my client, the correct dimension of the actual events was highlighted, which is far removed from the initial descriptions,” Fanourgakis stated.

“The defence demonstrated that this is an incident that lacks intent… He loves Greece and comes regularly with his family.”

Separately, the villa owner issued a public apology to Sellia residents for the fear and damage caused, while stressing that he had warned the guests both verbally and in writing not to use the barbecue in windy conditions.

He declined to assign blame pending the official investigation.

The arrest forms part of a broader crackdown.

By mid-August 2026, Greek authorities had arrested 297 people for starting fires since the beginning of the year—267 through negligence and 30 intentionally—with total fines exceeding €1.1 million.

Those found responsible can face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to €200,000.

Greece has endured a severe wildfire season fuelled by strong winds and dry conditions, prompting zero-tolerance enforcement of open-flame bans.