This summer's fires started earlier than last year. A few days ago, a large fire broke out in the small village of Divarata in Kefalonia, which was brought under control thanks to the ground and aerial forces that rushed to extinguish the blaze. For the first time, changes are being made to the Fire Department's operational plan, and everyone hopes they will be effective.
Now, the two firefighting aircraft permanently stationed at Kefalonia Airport throughout the fire season are mobilized immediately, according to the Argostoli Fire Department. Within 20 minutes, they are deployed to battle the flames, equipped with retardant liquid. Additionally, the new operational regulations of the Fire Department emphasize cooperation between the Fire Department and the Forestry Service. Forestry Service teams are now required to be on the field and provide support to the Fire Department forces. Moreover, the forest commandos units have been strengthened, with 10 new units established, bringing the total to 16 nationwide. This is a primarily airborne unit, constantly on the move and active year-round, not just during the summer.
The importance of forest protection is self-evident. Forests are the main regulators of the planet's climate. They produce oxygen and help combat climate change. They boast rich ecosystems, hosting significant biodiversity. Forest fires are the greatest threat to the conservation and productivity of forests. No other factor causes as rapid and extensive destruction to forest ecosystems as fires. They create radical changes. Fires also endanger people who are fighting the flames or are trapped, but not only them.
"I would like to forget the 3-4 sheep we couldn't get out of the pen and we heard them bleating as the fire approached. And that little dog that remained silent and tied up until it realized there was no escape... I would like to forget the birds that didn't manage to escape from the pine trees as they turned into a blazing inferno, and I saw them fluttering in the air and then falling like autumn leaves." The description of volunteer forest firefighter Nikos Filippopoulos from the large Penteli fire is shocking. But this is the sad reality and the grim picture one encounters at the fire fronts.
A fire is a war. According to a study by the National School of Public Health on residents of fire-affected areas, "many had intense fire marks on their souls six months after the disaster, showing symptoms of depression, post-traumatic disorders, and anxious behaviors." A. Rousou, president of the Society for the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents, has reported that "there are cases of children who, even ten years later, have all the symptoms of post-traumatic disorder. A child experiencing a fire feels trapped, feels endangered. The fire is faster than the child itself and its loved ones." She wonders: "What can be hidden in the soul of someone who saw their house burn down, powerless to prevent it? Even if the houses are rebuilt, who will enter them and in what condition...”
In 2023 alone, the total number of burned areas reached 174,000 hectares, a number much larger than the annual average of burned areas for the period 2006–2023, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. The average burned area per major forest fire in Greece from the beginning of the year until August 2023 increased by +517% compared to the corresponding average of the period 2002–2022. Greece ranked first among 20 Mediterranean countries, with a huge difference. Spain came second with 82,464 hectares, and Italy third with 59,533 hectares.
The Future Looks Grim The predictions of Kostas Synolakis, a professor of natural disasters, regarding wildfires in Greece are particularly worrying. He recently pointed out that there is an increase in fires that do not subside even during the night. "There is a change in fire behavior globally. It is the phenomenon of overnight burning events, i.e., fires that do not stop, do not go into recession at night but continue. In the past, the percentage of fires that did not go into recession at night was 2% to 3%. In recent years, we see that the percentage is 10% to 15%. And the worrying thing is that the number is constantly increasing.” Regarding the global phenomenon of mega fires, Mr. Synolakis estimates that “mega fires have occurred in Evros and Rhodes. In Dadia, it was the largest historical fire in Europe. The question is not whether we will see them in the future; we already see them in Greece. They are here to stay."
Dr. George Boustras, a professor of Risk Assessment at the European University of Cyprus and director of CERIDES, emphasizes that when fires are not caused by human actions, they are a consequence of climate change. "Climate change brings hotter summers almost every year. We will have to get used to living in the temperatures we experience today and even worse. The cycle we knew as spring, summer, autumn, winter no longer exists. We are moving into a phase of two seasons, summer and winter.”
It is clear that no one can predict or stop the start of a fire. Thus, prevention is the only way. As we read on firestudy.gr, according to the new regulation, all property owners within or near forested areas are required to conduct a technical report on the fire protection of their properties, undertaken by a competent technician who will suggest the appropriate protective measures.
Properties at risk are those within a radius of 300 meters from the boundaries of forested areas. However, since it is practically impossible for a citizen to know with absolute certainty whether their property falls under the regulation, the first step is an inspection by a competent technical scientist.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Energy, fire protection measures are necessary. These include creating a firebreak around the house, clearing at least a 10-meter radius of dry grass and leaves, pine needles, and branches. It is recommended to prune trees up to a height of 3 meters and 5 meters from the house. Windows and balcony doors should not have shutters made of flammable materials, and flammable objects should not be stored near the house. Additionally, having fire extinguishers and large hoses is deemed essential. If the fire eventually approaches the house, it is advised to stay calm and immediately call the Fire Department at 199.
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