Additional Coverage:
MEGARA, Greece – In the aftermath of a fierce wildfire that ravaged areas near Athens, Sasa, a lively mixed-breed puppy with floppy ears, remains missing after containment lines were lifted on Wednesday.
The wildfire, which blazed across mountains and coastal regions, led to the evacuation of numerous residents and posed a serious threat to local wildlife and pets. Volunteers have worked tirelessly to rescue hundreds of animals affected by the flames.
At one point, the fire burned simultaneously on five fronts, destroying dozens of homes and scorching over 100 square kilometers (39 square miles) of land. This incident adds to a growing trend of devastating wildfires across Europe during this summer’s intense heatwave, raising alarm among animal welfare advocates.
In the town of Megara, approximately 40 kilometers west of Athens, local volunteer organizer Elena Dede reported that more than 280 animals, primarily dogs, were saved amid the extreme heat and shifting fire conditions. Many of the rescued animals, including Sasa, were temporarily housed in an indoor sports facility, confined within collapsible wire cages equipped with basic comforts such as rubber balls and water bowls.
Dede described the fire as highly unpredictable and aggressive, with conditions changing rapidly. “There was so much heat and the fire was so aggressive. It was changing directions all the time,” she said.
Richard Parr, director of the UK-based Center for Wild Animal Welfare, praised the efforts of firefighters and volunteers, calling them “heroic.” However, he warned that rising temperatures and increasingly severe summers place millions of animals at greater risk. Parr emphasized that current rescue efforts are often improvised, relying heavily on private individuals and small charities.
“The scale of the challenges they’re facing in terms of the number of animals affected and the areas of fire is gigantic and completely out of step,” Parr said. His organization is advocating for the establishment of a dedicated European Union animal rescue service with proper funding to better address these crises.
Parr also recommended that governments consider creating “fire refuges” for animals, such as ponds and rock piles, to provide shelter during wildfires.
In Greece, rescuers face the ongoing challenge of finding homes for displaced animals like Sasa. Authorities are assisting in matching rescued pets with their owners through missing-animal notices and arranging temporary care.
Despite their success, Dede acknowledged the emotional toll on volunteers. “It was really hard for every volunteer and every person involved to survive the smoke and the stress,” she said.
“I will never forget the animals that we knew were left behind. I’m just hoping they were saved and ran free.”
The wildfire crisis in Greece highlights the urgent need for coordinated animal rescue efforts as climate change intensifies the threat of wildfires across Europe.