In view of the high wildfire risk facing the country due to high temperatures and strong winds, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Yannis Kefalogiannis announced the strengthening of the Fire Service with more than 100 new vehicles, drones and digital tools, in an interview he gave to the “SKAI” radio station.
At the same time, the minister previewed the scope of the equipment and technological transformation of Civil Protection in view of the handover event of new equipment at the Olympic Stadium, in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib.
Kefalogiannis: Fire service strengthening
Specifically, he mentioned that the country is strengthening both its ground and aerial fleet, while proceeding with the gradual strengthening of prevention through the National Program “AEGIS”. “It’s not just the vehicles. It’s communication systems, it’s the national database, it’s also the early warning systems – all constitute steps of digital readiness,” he emphasized.
At the same time, he stressed that 80 to 85 aircraft and helicopters operate daily, of which 49 are leased through an agreement that began in 2024, and 30-35 belong to the national fleet. “Their distribution covers the entire country, based on the risk map,” he noted characteristically.
It should be noted that Kefalogiannis emphasized that the use of drones increased from 40 to 87 as they represent a critical advantage in immediate fire detection. “Drones detect smoke before it even becomes fire. This allows us to send forces immediately. Based on statistics, 90% of fires are extinguished in the first minutes,” while he added that there is a 34% reduction in burned areas compared to 2024, with the reduction reaching 90% in forests (1,200 acres this year versus 19,000 last year).
Kefalogiannis: Over 60% of fires result from negligence
Furthermore, Mr. Kefalogiannis highlighted the critical human factor stating that: “Unfortunately, over 60% of fires result from negligence, not intention.” Indeed, he mentioned some indicative examples such as burning work or using tools in unsuitable conditions, calling on citizens to faithfully follow the Civil Protection guidelines, especially on days with increased risk index.
It is emphasized that part of the Canadair aircraft that Greece has is integrated within the framework of rescEU – the assistance program between EU member states – as the minister pointed out, referring to European cooperation in fire response. He also praised Commissioner Hadja Lahbib for her commitment to present a comprehensive plan to strengthen prevention and expertise at the European level, while reminding that “the ‘AEGIS’ program is funded to a very large extent by the Recovery Fund and ESPA – European assistance is decisive”.
Kefalogiannis: Triple high-risk mixture
At the same time, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection confirmed that the old vehicles being retired will be made available to volunteer organizations, municipalities and regions. “A big thank you to the 5,500 Civil Protection volunteers and the 5,000 volunteer firefighters – their role is critical,” he stated characteristically.
Regarding the difficult period of potential dangerous weather phenomena expected in the coming days, Kefalogiannis warned: “The first forecasts show temperatures above 40 degrees, even 43. If winds are added, we’re talking about a triple high-risk mixture: drought, heat, winds.”
In conclusion, he added that this year cleanups were carried out on 702,000 properties, while fines have already been imposed on 10% of those who did not comply. “Cleaning is not a one-time action. Continuous small interventions are needed throughout the fire season,” he emphasized.
