Warning: Steep Fire Department fines – €2,250 for burning branches in Corfu

A momentary mistake, a careless decision, or a misjudgment can, during the summer months, turn into a threat to property, forests, and human lives. That is the message behind the €2,250 administrative fine imposed on a woman who burned vegetation debris despite the wildfire season being in effect.

The fine was issued on June 26 by investigating officers of the Corfu Fire Services Administration after it was determined that the burning had been carried out in violation of current legislation in an area of the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands.

This is not an isolated incident. Since the start of the wildfire season, the Corfu Fire Department has stepped up inspections, and violations are now being penalised without exception. On May 21, an administrative fine of €1,500 was imposed for a similar case involving the burning of vegetation debris, while on June 11, another €1,250 fine was issued for the same offence. The €2,250 penalty is the highest announced in Corfu so far during this year's wildfire season, reflecting increasingly strict enforcement.

The restrictions are not merely a bureaucratic formality. At this time of year, with high temperatures, dry vegetation, and strong winds creating conditions of extreme fire danger, even burning a small pile of branches can escalate within minutes into an uncontrolled wildfire, threatening homes, farmland, and natural areas.

The Fire Department is urging the public to avoid using fire outdoors and to strictly follow wildfire prevention guidelines. The cost of violating the rules is no longer limited to the risk of starting a fire—it also comes in the form of substantial administrative fines, which can amount to thousands of euros.

ELENI KORONAKI