In areas where residents had cleared their plots of dry grass, the major fire that broke out from Drosopigi in Afidnes and reached Kryoneri caused destruction to homes and crops, as confirmed to “Apogevmatini” by the mayor of Dionyssos, Katerina Maichosoglou.
However, the fire passed through a large mixed area – forest, crops and different vegetation. Despite the fact that an extensive fire prevention zone had been created at the limits of the Kryoneri settlement, this had not been extended within the forest area. A similar incident occurred at the end of June in Palaia Fokaia, where sparks from a broken DEDDIE cable caused a fire in an uncleaned municipal stream, which spread rapidly throughout the area. The delay in fire prevention appears to be due to the state’s difficulties in clearing extensive public lands, despite imposing fines on citizens for neglecting to clean their plots.
As the president of the Panhellenic Union of Public Forest Service Employees, Nikos Bokaris, explains to “Apogevmatini”, the state cannot undertake the cleaning of all public lands. For forest areas, the “Antinero” program is implemented, through which prevention works, cleanings, removal of combustible material and opening of firebreaks and forest roads are carried out. It should be noted that 65% of the country is covered by forests and forest areas of public character.
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