A housemaid of Georgian origin was arrested in Chios for allegedly starting a wildfire after discarding a lit cigarette, according to police sources. The woman reportedly admitted her involvement in one of the fire fronts that broke out in the northern part of the island — separate from the blazes near the city.

How the Chios fire started: the woman’s confession
According to reports, the incident occurred on the morning of June 23. The woman stated that while smoking, she mistakenly disposed of her cigarette in an area that soon caught fire. She claimed she tried to extinguish the flames but was unsuccessful.

The wildfire burned over 40,000 stremmata (approximately 4,000 hectares or 10,000 acres) — see satellite map

The devastating fire on Chios burned for three days, leaving massive destruction. Initial estimates of the burned area are:

• 28,500 stremmata of forest and shrubland
• 3,600 stremmata of rocky terrain
• 400 stremmata of pine forest (Pinus brutia)
• 8,400 stremmata of agricultural land (mainly olive groves), accounting for 20% of the affected area

Authorities note that the final burned area may be smaller, as unburned sections within the perimeter will be mapped in detail.

Chios arson arrest: woman faces charges after cigarette sparks wildfire

Stay tuned for updates on the legal proceedings and recovery efforts following this environmental disaster on Chios.