Fire drills, one month before the start of fire season

With temperatures already reaching 30°C and fires breaking out, Greece is conducting drills for the fire season, which officially begins on May 1st.

Yesterday, an exercise was conducted within the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi, adjacent to the monastery of Ai Giannis. The event was organized by the Civil Protection of the Attica Region and involved the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi, the Fire Department, and other relevant agencies.

Upgraded vehicles and an artificial intelligence-driven sensor network to detect smoke in the early stages of a fire are anticipated to be delivered in 2025, followed by a delivery of 7 Canadairs in 2027.

In addition to the drills, several modifications to the Fire Department’s action plan are expected. Upon the fire outbreak, two fire engines (instead of one) will be dispatched to the scene, and a Fire Department officer will be promptly mobilized to conduct a thorough risk assessment.

Furthermore, depending on the severity of the fire, aerial vehicles and volunteer firefighters will be mobilized in the initial stages. Additionally, a comprehensive record of orders and decisions will be maintained at the Unified Fire Authority Coordination Center to ensure proper accountability for the decisions made.

Last year, 1.7 million hectares were burned in Greece, 1.2 million of which in the Evros area, where the largest fire in European history occurred.