Greece on wildfire alert as 400+ fires hit in 10 days, Tournas warns

Wildfire crisis and state of alert

Greece's civil protection mechanism remains on alert after a demanding 10-day period in which more than 400 fires were tackled under gale-force winds, with some still active as of 9 August. Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas told SKAI that the country is entering a period of very strong winds and needs to be ready. He described the past 10 days as difficult, with gale-force winds and adverse conditions, during which the forces dealt with more than 400 fires, some of which continue to be active and engage firefighting units. A new wave of powerful winds is expected in the coming days, prompting the Risk Assessment Committee to convene on 8 August under General Secretary of Civil Protection Nikos Papaefstathiou to assess the operational conditions that prevailed and the forecast for the coming days. Tournas identified three concurrent factors facilitating fire ignition and rapid spread: very strong winds, high temperatures reaching 40°C in the west and 38 to 39°C in the east, and abundant dry fuel. He noted that August is the month when everything has dried out, requiring great attention from everyone to avoid fire outbreaks.

Enforcement and fire causes

The Arson Crime Investigation Directorate has imposed 680 fines and carried out more than 274 arrests in connection with recent fires. Tournas stated that 90% of these cases involve fires caused by negligence and 10% by intent.

He praised the work of the authorities and urged citizens to be particularly careful, asking them to avoid activities that could start a fire. He noted that whether fires are caused by intent or negligence, the damage is the same.

Aerial operations grounded by wind

The Attica-Viotia fire illustrated the operational challenges posed by extreme winds. From the outbreak until noon the following day, 51 aerial means were ordered to operate on the front, but none could make drops because extreme winds and turbulence prevented both safe water scooping and drop execution. Tournas told SKAI that the main problem was the inability to operate aerial means due to strong winds. In many cases, aircraft took off but could not contribute. The fire chief sent Canadair from Athens, Elefsina, and Crete, but they went and returned without being able to help. In southern Crete, aerial means could not operate for days due to winds and strong turbulence. Only on the final day, when conditions allowed, two aircraft made drops on a fire that had already been contained by ground firefighting forces. Throughout the southern Crete operations, no aerial drops were carried out until that last day. As a result, the main burden of firefighting fell on ground forces.

Forces deployed and forward planning

The Armed Forces, Security Forces, and Fire Service have deployed their forces, and aerial patrols are beginning. Tournas told the Risk Assessment Committee that planning must be based on the real operational data that emerged from the recent fires. He requested a full evaluation of forecast data and the immediate adoption of all necessary preventive and operational measures so that the state mechanism is fully prepared for the new wave of strong winds expected to affect the country in the coming days.

In the face of extreme weather phenomena there is no room for complacency