A 44-year-old woman in Tripoli, Greece, was arrested in August 2024 after allegedly intentionally starting two wildfires — just so she could watch firefighters in action and flirt with them, according to Greek authorities.
The incidents occurred on August 24 and 25, in Kerasitsa, a rural area in the Municipality of Tripoli. The woman reportedly targeted farmland, and though the fires were quickly extinguished, they caused concern due to the ongoing drought and wildfire season gripping Greece.
Officials grew suspicious when the woman was seen at the scenes of both fires. After being taken in for questioning, she confessed, saying she enjoyed watching the firefighters and had hoped to meet and flirt with someone in uniform, according to reports from SKAI TV.
Authorities confirmed her arrest in an official statement released on August 26, 2024, noting that she had caused two fires intentionally and repeatedly.
A court sentenced her on August 30 to a suspended three-year prison sentence and fined her €1,000 (approximately $1,106). The suspended sentence means she won’t serve time immediately but could face jail if convicted of another offense in the future.
Although the wildfires she started were brought under control without major damage, the timing of her actions drew sharp criticism, as Greece was already facing one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent memory.
In August 2024, massive fires threatened residential areas near Athens, with entire suburbs evacuated — including hospitals. The Greek government had to request emergency assistance from other European countries. Extreme drought and prolonged heatwaves have turned large parts of the country into tinderboxes, making even small fires potentially catastrophic.
Greek authorities have emphasized that starting a wildfire, even by accident, is a serious criminal offense. In June, Greece’s Minister for Climate Crisis, Vassilis Kikilias, issued warnings about the dangers of wildfires during this dry season, especially given record-breaking drought and rising temperatures.
