Because of the continuing lack of rain and a recent increase in the number of wildfires, 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 be extended this year until 15th November.

In Crete alone there have been 23 wildfires in the last 10 days, and the extension applies to the Regions of North Aegean, South Aegean and Crete. As a reminder, the basic instructions relating to the avoidance of fires outdoors during the no-fires period, as published by the Ministry for Civil Protection, are as follows:
– Do not burn rubbish or dried plants and branches during the summer months.
– Do not light open air barbecues in forests or in areas where there is dried vegetation during the summer.
– Avoid work which could cause a fire (e.g. electric arc welding, use of cutting wheels or other tools which create sparks).
– Don’t throw away lit cigarettes
– Don’t leave rubbish in the forest. There is a danger it may ignite.
– Respect orders banning access in high-risk periods.

Contraventions will be punished by fines and criminal charges. More detailed instructions (in Greek only) for those who live near forests, and for what to do in case of fire, can be found on the Ministry’s website at https://civilprotection.gov.gr/odigies-prostasias/dasikes-pyrkagies.