The president of the Fire Service Officers Union, Kostas Tsigas, characterized the current fire season assessment as positive, noting a 10-15% decrease in wildfires compared to previous years. “We hope and want this reduction to continue until the end of the fire season,” he stated, pointing out that both burned areas and fire incidents show a decline.
Despite the positive outlook, Mr. Tsigas emphasized on the EΡTNews Update show that 40 to 50 new fire outbreaks are recorded daily, several of which occur simultaneously in nearby areas. As he stressed, the entire Civil Protection mechanism –including Armed Forces, Police, Local Government and volunteers– remains on constant alert.
“Any fire that breaks out within the limits of a settlement almost always has a human cause”
Notable, according to him, is the change in the profile of fires, as instead of forest fires approaching residential areas, this year many fires start within the urban fabric or on its outskirts, causing serious damage to homes and businesses.
“Any fire that breaks out within the limits of a settlement almost always has a human cause,” he mentioned, explaining that these fires present a triple operational challenge: rescuing human lives, protecting property and critical infrastructure, and preventing spread to forested areas.
Mr. Tsigas also emphasized the critical role of prevention and individual responsibility: “Negligence that causes fires is criminal. There is no reason to use flames in the countryside, whether by beekeepers or citizens working with grinders or oxygen tanks. Most fires are due to such negligent practices.”
