“We are entering this year’s battle with 28,000 firefighters”
“Obviously the good scenarios are not in front of us. We will have a difficult summer and this year. We are not fooled by the fact that we had more rains this year, “the Minister of Climate Change and Civil Protection said, Giannis Kefalogiannis, talking about the new firefighting period.
“In March, in the few days we had a higher temperature and perhaps even drier climate, we had over 1,365 fires. Yes, the Fire Brigade intervened quickly and we managed and limited them, the boundaries and the extinguishers, but in any case this gives us a guide and for this summer that we are going to face many challenges, “he said.
Then, as he himself said speaking to ERT: ‘We We are currently preparing for the fact that summer will be difficult With heat and with periods of drought, as well as with very strong winds. “
“This year we have a historically larger number in the Fire Brigade”
“We have this year, I would say the historically larger number of the fire brigade, A total of 18,000 women and men of the Fire Department. Of these are 15,500 are permanent and five -year and 2,500 seasonal, which are hired in the coming days and add to them the means which are enhanced each year, both aerial and terrestrial, “the Minister of Climate Change and Civil Protection said.
Asked if the number of firefighters is enough, he replied: “In 2019 the corresponding number was 13,000 permanent and 900 seasonal. So if one makes the arithmetic he will see that In the last six years we have an increase of 20 – 22% of the body. Obviously someone could say that we would like more, but I can say that it is a sufficient number right now. “
“If you add to them and 5,000 volunteer firefighters and 5,500 volunteers from civil protection organizations, you realize that a large number is now being concentrated. I am referring to the other two groups, because they are truly important in the effort of both prevention and suppression of the phenomenon. Therefore, we are entering this year’s battle with a number of about 28,000. “
Elsewhere he reported that ‘As the years go by and technology It is incorporated into this process along with the means, aerial and terrestrial, which we will have, Obviously we can do our job easier. “
Referring to the drones and their use said ‘Last year for the first time the doctrine of use of drones was applied45 across the country, but most of them were concentrated in Attica. So this year we go to a reinforcement. There has been a very big donation from DEDDIE for this year and we have the opportunity to have 82 drones, which enables us to cover the whole territory and especially the dangerous points. “
He explained that “they immediately identify the smoke, not even when the fire broke out. It is also a 24 -hour basis with thermal cameras which means they can work even over the night and identify the incident immediately. And of course they also give guidance because they send the image directly to the National Coordinating Center of Business through which we certainly determine the actions on the field. “
“It makes sense for us to worry Attica”
Speaking of which areas are most concerned he noted: ‘First of all, and It makes sense for us to worry about Attica. Although we have had incidents all previous years there are areas that have to be protected at the moment. And it’s our first priority. I mention Attica because when a fire breaks out in Attica, we have seen it in many cases unfortunately many times it can reach very close to residential areas, so it means that there is an immediate risk of human life. “
“Beyond that there are areas around the territory we have at times fires. I can specifically mention Zakynthos, Halkidiki, in general the Ionian Sea and as well as the Western Peloponnese, Ilia, Achaia, Corinth that gave us great fires last year. So there are areas that we have generally identified and there is a hazard map based on the historical data we have that is updated and we can predict to a great extent that we can pay attention to the fire period, “he said.
“112 is a tool that has saved lives”
For 112 and the criticism that Yiannis Kefalogiannis has received for his use stressed that he stressed that 112 is a tool that since 2019 and after operating actually has saved lives.
“It is used with the greatest possible and, of course, the meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee in the Ministry. There are various scientists, meteorologists and not only, who propose to emit an 112. It is not a political decision. “
“Where the fire passed and the plot was cleaned there was either zero disaster or minimal”
About cleaning of the plots said that ‘it is extremely important measure because All the previous years we have shown the experience that where the fire passed and the plot was cleaned there was either zero destruction or minimal. Where unfortunately the plot has not been cleaned and disasters we had a very rapid expansion of the fire because it found fuel especially in periods that were prolonged drought and had a very large expansion. “
“So I will once again make a public appeal to all our fellow citizens. Cleaning our plot is an obligation that we have first of all and our fellow man, next to our neighbor, but mainly for the environment, because in this way we actually reduce the chances of manifesting and expanding a fire, “he added.
He then explained: “Last year our details showed the following 830,000 cleaning across the country. The municipalities have worked together. But I think there are still very big rooms and I say this because last year while on the platform that the ministry has and we see all the details of the cleanings and complaints made, only 185 of the 332 municipalities came in, which means that there were another 150 municipalities who did not enter the platform.
“One of the first thoughts I made before a fire period was with KEDE. Were only 40 million for civil protectionThat is, exclusively for cases of civil protection, which means that a municipality can hire seasonal staff, he can do some cleaning on his municipal plots himself. Previously, anyone who does not clean up his plot can do so by the municipality and of course get the expense back through this process. So even in these cases no extra costs are needed. This amount was 31 million last year. So we have an increase of 33% this year“, He said.
He also announced that “in the last four years a very large program, Antinero, has been running through the Directorate -General for Forests of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, which is € 585 million and for the first time cleansing of forests, almonds, open -air zones. All of these are actions just to prevent a fire from manifesting in cases where fuel has unfortunately accumulated. “
The Minister of Climate Change and Civil Protection said that “we have resolved the issue of who is responsible for cleaning.
As he said, “one of the first actions we did, and almost in mid -March, was a meeting with ADMIE and DEDDIE, who clearly showed us what their plan is this year in terms of cleaning. What I say and publicly apply is that apparently where everyone has in their field of responsibility, that is, ADMIE for high voltage pillars, HEDDIE for medium and low voltage are responsible to clean the pillars around the pillars. This was done this year too. “
“Our goal is to have about 80 to 85 aerial means.”
For the volatile media, he noted, among other things, that there will be exclusively for Greece this year through the NSPA mechanism 49 aerial means, airplanes and helicopters. “In general, they will be scattered all over the area, island and mainland so that we can cover all the incidents. Therefore Our goal this year is to have about 80 to 85 aerial means depending on the availability every day that is all functional. “
Seasonal firefighters will be hired for 8 months and not for 6 for the whole of the next 5 years. He added that this year we will have 1,600 people, a total of 20 forestry groups across the country where the basic start of this tank was one of the former seasonal.
“Airbus contract was signed for the supply of eight medium -type helicopters”
Yiannis Kefalogiannis said that ‘A contract with Airbus for the supply of eight medium -type helicopterswhich are also able to do fire, as they have a tank that can reach up to 4,250 liters to make this mission. It can do research and rescue and of course it can also transfer staff to incidents such as floods and such phenomena. “
“Therefore, we are also reinforced by staff who are specialized in such cases. Obviously there will be failures, in the sense that you cannot predict 100% of natural phenomena. And something that gives me the opportunity to say is that the physical recordings obviously will exist, they will not be eliminated. “
“The goal is to be able to limit the destructive effects of these natural disasters.”
About the water scarcity He said: “I would say that there is a consignment with the Ministry of Environment and Energy on this issue. It is something that we are concerned with, because the less rainfall and snowfall of recent years have two basic consequences. “
“One is that the climate is drier, so we have more difficult fuel conditions to face. And the second is that there are not many times the tanks either natural or artificial, which when there will be the incident will be able to have a water or ground or ground. “
“Therefore, it is obviously something that concerns us and I can say that many of these actions we will have with the Ministry of Environment and Energy They will be precisely to be even more shielded on this front. “
For the Tempe -hail accident
Finally, asked about the case file on the possible criminal responsibilities of two former Transport Ministers, Konstantinos Karamanlis and Christos Spirtzis for the Tempe -hail accidentYiannis Kefalogiannis replied, among other things, that “we will study the case file, facilitate where needed this process and if we go to a model process, as you said, Triantopoulos, we will be the last ones to put any obstacle to them if they are actually carried out by them. judge. “