Jon Hale
ON THE RECORD · 7 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“When I opened the door and saw those hills [on fire], it took me aback. There were elements of panic,”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Jon Hale and his wife Shelley were forced to flee to the coast after fast-moving wildfires swept through part of Kefalonia, Greece.
“By seven o'clock they must have worked so hard, because the fires had really diminished,”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Firefighters worked through the night and by morning had significantly reduced the fire.
“The hills behind us were just ablaze,”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Hale described the rapidly spreading fires behind them and likened the situation to being in a movie.
“Every hour, the rep got all the holidaymakers together and gave us an update, but they didn't really know much,”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Hale said people gathered by the sea relied on intermittent updates from holiday reps while waiting to hear whether it was safe to return.
“It really was close, just across the roadway,”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Returning to the area, Hale saw scorched vegetation and burnt-out vehicles but said nearby homes and his accommodation escaped significant damage.
“The noise as well… I've not really heard that before, [it was] quite shocking.”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Hale described the noise of the wildfire as shocking and unlike anything he had heard before.
“There was a bit of panic at the time because the fires were spreading so quickly and there wasn't a lot of information.”
Jon Hale · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-03
Hale said there was little information available as the fires spread quickly and people gathered by the sea.