Municipal workers and volunteer organizations scrambled to shelter animals caught up in a devastating wildfire on Tuesday (August 4) that burned through acres of forest and farmland.

Gymnasiums and stadiums around western Attica were used as animal shelters for dogs and cats, farm animals, and even wild animals.

One shelter had even rescued toads, hedgehogs and wild boars, animal rescuer Elena Dede said.

Homes, forests and agricultural land have been damaged by the fire in this region, which has been burning for five days.

Although wildfires were easing on Tuesday, hundreds of firefighters were on alert for persistent flare-ups.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Rescued animals find shelter after Greek wildfire

VIDEO SHOWS: VOLUNTEERS AND RESCUERS AT A TEMPORARY SHELTER SET UP IN THE MEGARA STADIUM, WEST OF ATHENS, CARING FOR ANIMALS SAVED FROM THE WILDFIRES IN THE VILIA-MEGARA AREA/ BURNED FOREST NEAR PSATHA VILLAGE/ COMMENTS FROM VOLUNTEER RESCUER

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: MEGARA, WESTERN ATTICA, GREECE (AUGUST 4, 2026)(REUTERS – Access all)

1. VOLUNTEER RESCUE WORKER CUTTING DOG’S NAILS IN CAGE

2. VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS TAKING CARE OF DOG IN CAGE

3. STADIUM WITH CAGES FULL OF ANIMALS

4. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) ‘DOG’S VOICE’ NGO ANIMAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXPERT, ELENA DEDE, 40, SAYING:

“When we realized that the fire in Porto Germeno and Prosilis would create a fire that was out of control, our rescue team immediately approached the area and we tried to preventively evacuate as many animals that we knew would be in danger from the fire that would pass. The animals were transferred to Vilia, and the effort continued even when the fire was in the village, we approached animals that residents or firefighters had told us were there or were in danger.”

PSATHA VILLAGE, WESTERN ATTICA, GREECE (AUGUST 4, 2026)(REUTERS – Access all)

5. VARIOUS OF BURNED FOREST

MEGARA, WESTERN ATTICA, GREECE (AUGUST 4, 2026)(REUTERS – Access all)

6. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) ‘DOG’S VOICE’ NGO ANIMAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXPERT, ELENA DEDE, 40, SAYING:

“On the one hand we find ourselves facing a catastrophe, 120,000 stremmata of forest have been burned, a lot of animals and people have lost their homes, that is horrible. On the other hand we see what people are capable of in these moments when we work in a team and have a common goal how much love these animals, which may have never had any, can receive.”

7. VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS AND RESCUERS WITH DOGS

8. VOLUNTEERS IN STADIUM

9. VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER RESCUER HOLDING A HEDGEHOG IN HER HAND

10. VOLUNTEERS AROUND CAGES

11. VOLUNTEER LOOKING AT DOG IN CAGE

12. DOG IN CAGE

13. (SOUNDBITE)(Greek) ‘DOG’S VOICE’ NGO ANIMAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT EXPERT, ELENA DEDE, 40, SAYING:

“We have recorded in total 210 companion animals at both sites. We also took in farm animals, but also wild animals, from a fox that has been shot, to small wild boars, and toads.”

14. VARIOUS OF TOAD IN A CONTAINER

15. VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER WITH DOG IN A CAGE