Starting Tuesday, June 23, targeted inspections are expected to begin nationwide by the Fire Department.
The progress of the wildfire season was the focus of a broad meeting with the senior leadership and commanders of the Fire Department from across the country, which was convened today by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas.
Among other topics, the meeting addressed the operational readiness of the mechanism and the intensification of prevention efforts.
In his remarks, the minister referred to the weather conditions for the coming days, noting that strong winds will continue to affect the country, while temperatures are expected to rise starting in the middle of next week.
Mr. Tournas noted that the goal is: “to limit the number of new fires and reduce the amount of combustible material,” since, as he emphasized, these are the two key factors that test the resilience of the civil protection system every year.
Referring to the conditions that prevail during major wildfires, he emphasized that when high temperatures, strong winds, and multiple simultaneous outbreaks combine, “a massive dispersion of resources” occurs, resulting, as he added, in the entire system being overwhelmed. As he pointed out, in such cases “the major problem of how to manage the crisis begins.”
The minister congratulated the Fire Department on its performance so far during the fire season, noting that there has been a decrease of approximately 14% in the number of fires, despite the fact that more than 900 fires have already broken out since the start of the fire season.
He made special mention of the Arson Crimes Division and the 37 Arson Crimes Response Units, noting that they play a vital role in identifying the causes of fires and those responsible for starting them.
As he emphasized, “We must find the cause of the fire and the person responsible,” making it clear that the effort to identify and punish those responsible will continue with even greater intensity.
“We will not go easy on anyone,” he stated emphatically, underscoring that “we will pursue the arsonist, whether the act was due to negligence or intent,” since, as he said, the overwhelming majority of fires continue to be caused by human negligence.
At the same time, he referred to the increased amount of combustible material, noting that “winter rainfall has led to vigorous vegetation growth, which significantly increases the risk of fires spreading during the summer months.”
What he said about prevention projects
Regarding the prevention projects being implemented through the AntiNero program, as well as the interventions carried out in collaboration with the Armed Forces’ DIKAFKA, he emphasized that efforts to remove flammable material will continue throughout the summer.
The minister pointed out, however, that despite the significant efforts made by many municipalities, there are still cases where the necessary preventive work has not progressed sufficiently.
“There are quite a few who have done a very good job, but there are also quite a few who have done nothing,” he noted.
He also placed particular emphasis on citizens’ responsibility to clear their properties, stressing that protecting a home begins with prevention.
As he noted, “Everyone has a responsibility to take care of their property,” and he reminded everyone that “the fire must not reach the house.”
Regarding the clearing of lots, Mr. Tournas emphasized that “prevention is a critical factor both for protecting lives and property and for reducing the pressure on the operational mechanism.”
Given that the deadline for clearing plots of land expires on Monday, the minister ordered the Fire Departments to begin targeted inspections throughout the country starting Tuesday.
As noted, commanders and officials of the services are asked to document uncleared plots of land and hazardous areas, so that the relevant reports can be sent to the responsible municipalities for the necessary actions.
In closing the meeting, the minister reiterated that reducing the number of fires and the amount of combustible material is a prerequisite for the successful management of the fire season.
“If we work now to remove flammable material and reduce the risk, then we will achieve a better result,” he emphasized, noting that the goal is not only to combat fires but to foster a new culture of prevention among citizens, municipalities, and government agencies.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary General for Civil Protection, Nikos Papaefstathiou; the senior leadership of the Fire Department; the Inspectors of Northern and Southern Greece; the Heads of the Operations and Support Divisions of the Fire Service Headquarters (APS), the Commander of the National Operations and Crisis Management Coordination Center (E.S.K.E.D.I.K.), the Operations Coordinators, the Commanders of the Regional Fire Service Commands (PEPYD), the Commanders of the Prefectural Fire Services (DIPYN), as well as the Director of the Arson Crimes Division (DAEE) and the Director of the Preventive Fire Protection Division.
