An early start to the no-fires season

The period during which open fires are prohibited is starting earlier than any previous year for Crete, according to a report in Haniotika Nea. The Operations Coordinator for the North and South Aegean and Crete, Μajor-General Konstantinos Theofilopoulos, has issued a statement to the effect that the anti-fire period will start for the regions of South Aegean, Crete and the Regional Unit of Samos on Thursday 20th April.

According to the announcement “From Thursday 20th April 2023 and until the end of the anti-fire period, any use of fire is prohibited in all the areas falling within the scope of Fire Regulation 9/2021. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the Fire Service HQ reserve the right to apply every legal process provided for against those who break the law.”

Speaking on Skai Kriti 92.1 last week, the General Secretary for the Heraklion Fire Service Fay Sfakiotaki said that the lack of rain this year had necessitated the bringing forward of the date, and urged citizens to comply with Fire Regulation 9/21, which allows for the imposition of both administrative fines and criminal penalties on transgressors. The number of fires on the island since the beginning of the year has already exceeded last year’s national record, she said.

“Prevention, Preparation, Readiness”

According a report on the online news site Agonas Kritis, the ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection had begun discussions in preparation of the anti-fire period as early as the end of January, focussed on a new dogma of “Prevention, Preparation, Readiness” and combining the immediate response to emergency situations with intensified cooperation among all the services involved: the Fire Service the Armed Forces, the Hellenic Police, the Coastguard, the National Emergency Services (EKAB), the Forestry Services, local government and volunteers.

A firefighting helicopter in action
The number of airborne firefighting units, both from the national fleet and chartered aircraft, will remain at the same as last year, at 86 units. Photo: Haniotika Nea

The total number of regular firefighters is slightly less than last year (14,168 against 14,616 in 2022), owing to retirements, However, an additional 2,500 seasonal personnel will be employed this year. An important role in the fight against forest fires will also be played by volunteer firefighters, who will this year number 4,000, including 900 who have been certified and incorporated into the Fire Service in 2023. Also, Greece will for the second consecutive year be hosting firefighters from five European countries within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.