The Decentralized Administration of Macedonia-Thrace has stepped up wildfire prevention measures through a circular issued by Secretary Dimitris Galamatis. Beyond individual precautions, it calls on farmers to create firebreak zones.
The move follows a coordination meeting held at the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, chaired by Deputy Interior Minister Kostas Gioulekas, focused on the Thessaloniki Coordination Council. The circular, prepared with input from the Fire Service, is aimed at farmers, rural land managers, residents, and visitors, especially in tourist areas, with the goal of boosting awareness and prevention during the current wildfire season.
The documents were sent to all 60 municipalities and civil protection services across Central and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, with requests to post them on municipal websites and public service points and publicize them broadly through press releases so farmers are informed of preventive fire measures.
Galamatis said the goal shared by everyone involved in fire prevention is to strengthen efforts against forest and rural wildfires, noting that most fire outbreaks start on farmland. He said the circular followed a meeting at the ministry and coordination with fire services, and stressed that cooperation between authorities, agencies, and citizens is the key to fire protection, adding that the government’s existing fire-prevention measures are already showing results and that this initiative aims to reinforce that effort.
Guidance for farmers and land managers
Farmers and land managers are asked, once harvesting is done, to create firebreak zones or strips around the perimeter of their fields using plows, rotary tillers, or disc harrows where feasible. Plowing the entire cultivated area is also recommended as an added precaution. Particular care is urged around avoiding machinery that could throw sparks, such as brush cutters, on days when the fire-risk index reaches category 3 or higher.
Public information
Emphasis is also being placed on informing residents and visitors about wildfire risks and self-protection measures, including making informational material available in foreign languages, especially in tourist areas and on high-risk days.
