Greek authorities will deploy additional firefighting resources and increase surveillance across parts of the country on Wednesday after forecasting a very high risk of wildfires in several island regions during the peak of the summer fire season.
The warning, classified as Category 4 on Greece’s five-tier fire danger scale, applies to the island of Crete as well as parts of the North and South Aegean regions, according to the country’s daily fire risk forecast.
Areas facing the highest level of alert include the islands of Chios, Samos and Ikaria in the North Aegean, along with Kos and Kalymnos in the Dodecanese island group in the southeastern Aegean.
Regional authorities, municipalities and emergency services in the affected areas have been placed on heightened readiness to respond quickly to any outbreaks, the Civil Protection Ministry said.
The Fire Service said it would maintain its second stage of operational readiness, a measure that includes increased aerial surveillance and expanded patrols by firefighters, police and military units.
Fire departments in the affected regional units have also been placed on partial alert to ensure additional personnel are available should conditions deteriorate.
Authorities may also impose preventive restrictions on vehicle access and visitor movement in national parks, forests and other areas considered particularly vulnerable to wildfires.
Officials urged residents and visitors to exercise caution outdoors and avoid activities that could ignite a fire accidentally, including burning vegetation, using equipment that generates sparks, operating outdoor grills or discarding lit cigarettes.
The Fire Service also reminded landowners that agricultural burning remains prohibited during the wildfire season.
Anyone who spots a fire is asked to notify the Fire Service immediately by calling the emergency number 199. For official wildfire prevention guidance and updates from Greek authorities, readers can consult the General Secretariat for Civil Protection website.
