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The operational doctrine established last year will guide efforts this year, with a primary focus on rapid response in the field. The strategy outlined by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the upcoming wildfire season, which begins on May 1st, revolves around a three-part formula: reducing ignition sources, promptly containing fires as they arise, and adopting a comprehensive approach to managing large wildfires.
Recent data reveals that firefighting personnel will exceed 18,000, comprising 15,500 permanent and 2,500 seasonal firefighters. This surge, highlighted by the ministry’s political leaders and reinforced by the Prime Minister in a recent meeting, marks a 20% increase compared to 2023. The personnel includes 1,600 forest rangers, and the Special Forest Operations Units (EMODE) will expand to 20, with four new units stationed in Chania, Ilia, Evia, and Zakynthos. These additional EMODE units are set to employ 163 individuals, with distributions of 52 in Chalkida, 42 in Chania, 45 in Pyrgos, and 24 in Zakynthos.
Additionally, the European Firefighters Prepositioning Program will continue this year, deploying 294 firefighters from the Czech Republic, France, Romania, Moldova, and Bulgaria to assist Greek teams in combating wildfires.
The volunteer force is also expected to grow significantly. According to Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Yiannis Kefalogiannis, there will be 4,912 volunteers from the Fire Brigade and 5,700 from Civil Protection, sourced from 295 organizations.
In terms of aerial resources for this year, Civil Protection has announced a fleet of 80-85 aircraft, including 49 rental units. The ground vehicle fleet is projected to reach approximately 3,700 units. Moreover, the number of drones has risen to 82 (up from 45 last year) for aerial surveillance aimed at early warning and fire prevention.
The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system will also expand into high-risk regions such as Crete, Rhodes, and the Northern Aegean islands. Last year, UAVs were deployed in various areas including Attica, Corinthia, and Evia, as well as for monitoring periurban zones and protected areas of Epirus.
Another vital prevention measure involves the clearance of private properties, with a deadline now extended to June 15th.
The AntiNero program, aimed at clearing land and creating firebreaks in forested areas, is also in progress, alongside efforts to clear high-voltage power lines that traverse forestlands and interventions at archaeological sites.
Finally, this year’s wildfire season will prioritize interoperability and collaboration among all stakeholders involved in fire management.
