As a wildfire tore through mountain and coastal areas near Athens, Greece, volunteers rushed in to protect vulnerable pets and wild animals left stranded during emergency evacuations.
What happened?
As a wildfire spread near Athens, residents were forced to evacuate multiple areas, leaving hundreds of animals in danger. According to The Associated Press, volunteers stepped in to save the surviving creatures.
"When the fire began, our dedicated animal rescue team was in the field; we were following the orders of the fire department," Elena Dede said in a video.
Dede described it as a megafire and said it was "really hard for every volunteer and every person involved to survive the smoke and the stress."
When neighborhoods are evacuated quickly, some animals can become separated from their families, while wild animals may be trapped by flames, smoke, or blocked escape routes.
Why does it matter?
Wildfires threaten more than homes and infrastructure. They also place enormous strain on animals, local shelters, rescue networks, and the people trying to care for them during chaotic evacuations.
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For household pets, a sudden fire can mean missed medication and separation from owners. For wild animals, the dangers can be even more severe, including burns, smoke inhalation, dehydration, and habitat loss that can continue long after the flames are extinguished.
Hotter, drier conditions can make wildfires more destructive, increasing the danger for both people and wildlife in fire-prone regions.
"I feel I will never forget the images of the animals that I knew we left behind," Dede said. "I'm hoping that they were saved and run free."
What's being done?
In disasters like this, community responders often become a crucial bridge between official evacuations and animal safety. They may help locate stranded pets, move animals out of danger, and support overwhelmed rescue organizations.
Rescuers have also noted the importance of evacuation plans for livestock, which typically can't be transported by volunteer organizations due to a lack of sufficient transportation and other necessary infrastructure.
Individually, you can donate to shelters or organizations doing the rescue work, and fostering or adopting pets when able can relieve stress on overcrowded shelters.
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