Israeli Man Arrested in Crete for Negligently Causing Wildfire by Using Barbecue
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
A 35-year-old Israeli was arrested in Crete for negligently causing a wildfire by using a barbecue in a high-risk area near Rethymno. Greek firefighters contained the fire after several hours, and the suspect will face legal proceedings.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli man arrested in Crete for negligently causing wildfire by using a barbecue.
- Fire broke out Friday near Rethymno in a very high fire risk area (level 4).
- Firefighters battled the blaze for about four hours before containing it.
- Suspect detained Saturday and will be brought before Greek judicial authorities.
- Greece recorded 297 fire-related arrests in 2026, mostly for negligence.
- Incident underscores strict fire safety enforcement in Greece’s high-risk zones.
A 35-year-old Israeli man was arrested in Crete on suspicion of negligently causing a wildfire near Rethymno, Greece. The fire broke out on Friday around 19:11 in the Plakias area, where the fire risk level was classified as very high (level 4). According to Greek fire services, the blaze started while the man was using a barbecue, which led to the fire threatening to spread. Firefighters worked for approximately four hours to contain the fire. Following an investigation and evidence collection, the Israeli suspect was detained on Saturday and is expected to face judicial authorities in Greece.
Greek authorities reported that from the beginning of 2026 until August 15, there have been 297 arrests related to fire-setting offenses, mostly due to negligence. This incident highlights the strict enforcement of fire safety regulations in high-risk areas during the fire season in Greece.
