Meltemia winds and heat waves combined increase the risk of occurrence and rapid spread forest fires in the country, placing the Civil Protection on constant alert.

The state Civil Protection mechanism is placed in a state of heightened operational readiness, as the particularly adverse weather conditions—combining high temperatures, strong northerly winds, and an abundance of dry combustible material create an explosive mix conducive to the outbreak and rapid spread of forest fires, with the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas sending a clear warning and emphasizing the need for maximum caution on the part of citizens and authorities, at a time when the number of fires remains high and the operational pressure on the response system is already intense.

The need for constant vigilance and increased caution on the part of all citizens, as the country enters a period of particularly high risk for the outbreak of wildfires, was emphasized by Evangelos Tournas, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, in an interview with the TV station “STAR Central Greece,”

The warnings

Referring to “the particularly challenging conditions that have prevailed since the first weeks of the fire season,” Mr. Tournas pointed out that the country is simultaneously facing high temperatures, increased fuel load due to heavy winter rainfall, and strong winds, which, he said, facilitate the rapid spread of fires. As he pointed out, “these three factors fuel the fire,” which is why the response mechanism is on high operational alert.

Mr. Tournas noted that more than 30 to 40 fires break out every day, a fact which, he added, causes a significant dispersion of available air and ground forces. “We have a dispersion of forces both on the ground and in the air,” he emphasized, noting that the majority of fires continue to be caused by human negligence, primarily during agricultural and livestock-related activities.

He made special mention of the Directorate for Combating Arson Crimes (DAEE), noting that of the more than 1,100 fires that have broken out since the start of the fire season, approximately 470 have already been solved, while administrative fines totaling over 550,000 euros have been imposed and 120 arrests have been made under the procedure for offenses committed in flagrante delicto. As he emphasized, the goal is to limit the number of fires.

The Limits of the Mechanism

Mr. Tournas noted that efforts to upgrade and strengthen the Civil Protection Mechanism have continued steadily over the past four years. As he noted, with the new hires, the Fire Department will have a total of 18,800 firefighters this year, including seasonal staff, while at the same time, as he added, it is being reinforced with new aerial assets, digital command and control systems, as well as modern surveillance and early warning systems through the “AIGIS” program.

However, he emphasized that even the strongest mechanism has its limits when called upon to handle a large number of incidents simultaneously. “No matter how much we strengthen the mechanism, no matter how powerful it becomes, if we are not careful, if we do not focus on prevention—which is the responsibility of all of us— then no system can respond equally effectively to all incidents,” he noted. He explained, in fact, that even with a fleet of 80 aircraft, when 40, 50, or 60 fires break out simultaneously, only about half of them can be tackled at the same time.

The Importance of Prevention

He placed particular emphasis on the importance of prevention and cooperation among all stakeholders. As he noted, the ministry is working closely with the Ministry of Environment and Energy to implement the ANTINERO program, for which, as he noted, over 665 million euros have been allocated over the past five years, with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the Ministry of National Defense through DIKAFKA, the Forestry Services, the Regions, the Municipalities, the Security Forces, and volunteers, in both prevention and suppression efforts.

At the same time, he called on citizens to continue clearing their properties even after the relevant deadline has passed, noting that “the effort does not stop now.” The effort continues next month and in the months to come, because the threat of flammable material remains.”

Referring to the lessons learned from the major catastrophic fires of previous years, the minister emphasized that the country must invest even more in prevention and public education. “First and foremost, the greatest effort must be directed toward prevention,” he said, emphatically repeating that “prevention, priority on prevention, prevention, and prevention.”

High risk in the coming days

Mr. Tournas also pointed out that Greece is located in the “hot zone” of the Mediterranean and that the most vulnerable areas stretch from Thrace and eastern Thessaly to Euboea, eastern Boeotia, Attica, the eastern Peloponnese, and the islands of the eastern Aegean, areas which, as he emphasized, are particularly affected by the meltemi winds and pose an increased risk of rapid fire spread.

In closing, Mr. Tournas noted that weather conditions will worsen in the coming days, with northeasterly winds intensifying and a very high fire danger index, assuring that government agencies will remain on high alert. At the same time, he appealed to all citizens “to act responsibly and exercise caution when using fire outdoors,” so that, as he noted, human lives, property, and the natural environment can be protected.