‘This year’s climate conditions classify the summer of 2025 as the most difficult of the last decades, not only for Greece but for the whole Mediterraneanconfirmed by the major fires that broke out in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France and Turkey, “said the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Giannis Kefalogiannis.
As he said in an interview with the newspaper “Macedonia on Sunday, this year’s firefighting season is already considered historic as at European level, about 9 million acres have been burned to date – the highest, as he pointed out, has ever been recorded since 2006.
About Greece, Mr. Kefalogiannis pointed out that so far they have been treated almost 6.000 firesmost of which, as he notes, were “treated immediately” and adds that the final report will be at the end of the fire season.
“We are halfway through the firefighting season and August, as you know, is always a month with an increased risk indicator. It is therefore offered for reports only for constant alertness, “he noted.
At the same time, the minister underlined that July 2025 was one of the most extreme months of the last 40 years based on the European Fire Risk Assessment Index and added that on August 12 the index exceeded the historical ceiling.
“The Fire Department was called only in the four days before the 15th of August to face 240 fires, an unprecedented number. Much of these fires came from arson, such as in Patras, Vonitsa, Zakynthos.
Which mechanism internationally can guarantee complete defense against this explosive mix of climate crisis, human negligence and criminal action?“, He said.
In addition, he expressed his gratitude to the Fire Department officials, the volunteers and overall the Civil Protection Mechanism, which they give, as he said, “daily a difficult struggle under conditions of extreme pressure”
Concerning what needs to change in order to deal with fires, Mr Kefalogiannis stressed that they should focus more on the causes of the fires, adding that “the conditions for the establishment of local prevention plans have now matured”.
«Plans that will allow precise mapping of risks, setting priorities, planning of actions, better utilization of volunteers and media. In this way, prevention will become even more targeted, more direct and effective locally, “the minister said.
Asked why Northern Greece, and especially Central Macedonia, has faced the last summers less problems with the fires, Mr Kefalogiannis said that each area of the country has its own peculiarities in morphology, vegetation, climate and land use.
“Northern Greece and Central Macedonia may not have been at the center of major fires this year, such as other areas of the country, but this does not mean that the risk is less or that we can rest.
Experience shows that with the prevailing climatic conditions, an area can pass from “security” to extreme threat within a few hours. That is why our strategy is unified for the whole country: prevention, preparedness and rapid response everywhere, whether we are talking about Attica, the Peloponnese or Macedonia, “he said.
At the same time the Minister Climate crisis and civil protection He sent a message to the citizens not to be complacent as he said we are still in the heart of the fire period.
“No relaxation, no complacency. The state mechanism is on a constant alert, but the truth is that without the active participation of citizens we cannot achieve what we need. So I ask for the attention, responsibility and cooperation of all of us, “he noted.
Concerning the cooperation with the municipalities, Mr. Kefalogiannis pointed out that tackling fires requires synergies and coordination. “So I do not agree that my public criticism was aimed at municipalities.
Their vast majority of cooperating closely and consistently supports the joint effort, “he said, referring to the case of the Municipality of Patras, re -launching his fires against the mayor.
Finally, in terms of opposition criticism, the minister said that “the opposition also faced fires this year not as a national challenge but as an opportunity for cheap opposition.”
“The country needs seriousness, documented proposals and a sense of collective responsibility, not nihilism and micro -political games on the ashes,” the minister concluded.