A striking photo from Chios showing firefighters lying on the asphalt, taking a brief rest before heading back to battle raging wildfires, has gone viral and moved thousands online.
For a second consecutive day, firefighters have been fighting relentless blazes across multiple fronts in Western Greece and on the island of Chios. Working non-stop under extreme conditions, the Chios crews took a short break, lying down wherever they could, as captured in the powerful image.
ΧΩΡΙΣ ΛΟΓΙΑ……… Χίο pic.twitter.com/FbHPwWdIXP
— Fire Fighting Greece (@FightingGreece) August 13, 2025
Commenting on the scene, Nikos Lavranos, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Fire Brigade Employees’ Unions, said it reflects “the harsh reality of a firefighter’s daily life when a forest fire is in progress.”
Speaking to ERT, Lavranos explained:
“Personally, this image doesn’t surprise me. Unfortunately, seeing exhausted firefighters collapse and rest wherever they stand is part of our reality. They’re not sleeping; they’re closing their eyes for a few moments—half an hour, maybe an hour—before jumping back into the fight.”
He added that these firefighters, like many others across Greece, have been working almost daily for the past month, often exceeding 24–40 consecutive hours on duty, with some emergency teams working more than 50 hours straight.
Lavranos concluded by highlighting the personal sacrifices made every summer:
“During wildfire season, a firefighter forgets about family, children, even the right to rest. This is the harsh reality.”
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