NewsGreece braces for fiery summer, doubles firefighters amid climate woes
Greece braces for fiery summer, doubles firefighters amid climate woes
9:47 PM EDT, May 3, 2024
Greeks have already started preparing for the worst scenario. "It's going to be a very tough fire season, a very difficult summer," warned Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection of Greece, as reported by the AP agency.
Typically, the fire season in Greece begins on the first day of May, but this year, the authorities announced its onset much earlier, by mid-April. This year's early implementation of fire prevention measures—spurred by high temperatures, scant rainfall, and strong wind—is the earliest in recorded history.
They have reasons for concern
This year, Greece is doubling its number of firefighters in specialized units to about 1,300. They plan to leverage the fire-fighting experience of the United States. Anticipating a challenging season, the Greeks are thus prioritizing training and innovative fire extinguishing methods.
"Using water is no longer our primary weapon against fire, but rather our tools. We are adopting a more scientific approach to fires, taking into account air moisture and wind," firefighter Dimitris Priftis told AP.
Major investments
Greece has initiated a disaster response enhancement program valued at 2.1 billion euros. With the majority of funding coming from the European Union, they have ordered water-dropping airplanes, drones, fire trucks, training facilities, and a sensor network that utilizes artificial intelligence to detect early signs of smoke and flooding early. As AP notes, the new equipment is expected to arrive in Greece, but not before 2025.
Local media highlight that last year, a fire ravaged 675 square miles of Greek land. Additionally, the past winter was recorded as the warmest in the history of national measurements. Sadly, the outlook for this season remains bleak.
