With the no-fires period, which runs from 1st May to 31st October, well under way, it may be useful to issue a reminder of the fire prevention measures instituted by the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, which include the forbidding of access in times of high fire risk to certain routes located in Natura areas.
Fire risk map
Throughout the summer period, the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection issues daily updates to its map showing the current fire risk in different areas of the country. In a press release issued on 30th April, the Ministry sets out the principles behind the publication of the map, and lists the five different levels of fire risk as follows:
— Category 1 (Green): Low risk
— Category 2 (Blue): Moderate risk
— Category 3 (Yellow): High risk
— Category 4 (Orange): Very high risk
— Category 5 (Red): Alarm condition.
Rules for Natura areas
An element of the government’s fire risk management is the banning of access to forested areas and parks within EU-designated Natura areas, which by definition are mainly located away from urban centres and are therefore likely to present problems in both fire prevention and firefighting should fires break out. Access to these areas may be prohibited when the fire risk assessment reaches Categories 4 or 5 (orange or red), with the ban lasting throughout the relevant 24-hour period.
Exceptions are made for emergency vehicles, vehicles carrying municipal or official service staff who are monitoring the ban on mobility or carrying out maintenance, members of voluntary organisations who are demonstrably engaged in fire safety patrols, and residents who are engaged in stock-raising, agricultural or beekeeping activities, or who live in these areas.
Restricted areas in the Regional Unit of Chania
The following table shows the restricted areas within the Regional Unit of Chania, with the level of fire risk at which the ban comes into force.
The fire risk map of the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection can be found here: https://civilprotection.gov.gr/en/xartis.
The Ministry’s press release of 30th April can be found here: https://civilprotection.gov.gr/en/deltia-tupou/
