Woman Intentionally Starts 2 Wildfires In Greece To 'Flirt' With Firefighters

A 44-year-old woman from Tripoli, Greece, is facing legal trouble after she intentionally set not one but two wildfires on farmland in Kerasitsa. As per reports, the incidents happened on August 24 and 25, while the woman was arrested on August 26 by the Police Department of Tripoli. Investigators revealed that her unusual motive was to catch the attention of firefighters, so that she could meet and flirt with them. As per the police department, the woman was spotted at both fire sites, which sparked suspicion among the firefighters. Following the investigation, the woman was arrested.

As per the local media Skai TV, she has been sentenced to 36 month in prison and a fine of €1,000 (approximately Rs 92000). Meanwhile, the woman’s prison sentence has been put on hold. However, if she commits another crime within a specified period, she will be asked to serve this sentence along with the new one. Fortunately, the fires that the woman started only damaged small plots of land and were quickly controlled by the fire department. On the other hand, no injuries were reported, thanks to the fast response from firefighters at both scenes.

The recent wildfire in Kerasitsa happened weeks after Greece battled severe wildfires in Athens. Residents and tourists in the capital were advised to evacuate as hundreds of firefighters tackle a massive blaze triggered by strong winds and dry conditions from intense heat waves. To address the rising number of fire incidents, new penalties have been introduced for those who accidentally start fires.

Speaking with BBC, George, a 36-year-old volunteer firefighter, said, “It was like hell. It was like a war. We don’t have the resources to beat those conditions.” Meanwhile, his partner, Georgia added, “I think the future for us and our children is not very good. We love summer but not like that. We’re doing everything to destroy our planet. We have created cities that might not be exactly in the right place and in the right type. When I was a kid, I remember, the mountains facing the capital were green.”

Alex Krokidas from the NGO Thalpos pointed out that the psychological effects of these fires would remain for a long time. He explained that trauma can have delayed effects, as people might experience anxiety or flashbacks after the events. Meanwhile, Greek officials have defended their response to the recent fires, stating that they acted quickly despite facing extreme and challenging conditions.