Μake us preferred on Google Greece will recruit 600 firefighters this year and another 600 in 2027 as part of plans to strengthen the country’s fire service and civil protection system, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas said.
In an interview with Greek newspaper Vradyni tis Kyriakis, Tournas also said the number of fires and the amount of land burned during the 2026 wildfire season were significantly lower than the average recorded over the previous two decades.
Fewer fires and less burned land
By the end of September, Greece had recorded 3,960 wildfires, a figure Tournas said was 29.28% lower than the average of the previous 20 years.
Burned land totaled 335,706 stremmas, or approximately 33,571 hectares, representing a 37.56% decrease compared with the same 20-year average.
“The two goals of the wildfire season were to reduce the number of fires starting and to reduce the burned areas. These goals were achieved to a satisfactory degree,” Tournas said.
He said 99.7% of fires were dealt with immediately, but about two-thirds of the burned area resulted from four major fires occurring within a four-day period.
This, he said, demonstrated both the effectiveness of rapid intervention and the difficulties posed by extreme conditions. Strong winds accelerated the spread of fires and, in critical cases, prevented aircraft from operating.
“During this battle, we had loss of life and destruction that do not allow for complacency,” Tournas said.
1,200 new firefighters by 2027
The Fire Service currently has approximately 18,800 firefighters, including seasonal personnel, according to the minister.
“This year we are recruiting 600 career-term firefighters and another 600 will be recruited in 2027,” Tournas said.
The government has also increased the number of students admitted annually to the Fire Service’s training academies from 170 to 330.
In addition, the employment period for seasonal firefighters has been extended from six to eight months.
Tournas said protecting personnel requires continuous training and recertification, strict use of personal protective equipment, and clear instructions and communication in the field.
He emphasized that the civil protection system’s top priority is protecting human life, property and the natural environment.
80 aircraft available for firefighting
The minister said this year’s planning included 80 aerial firefighting assets, deployed depending on their availability and weather and operational conditions.
However, he said the main issue was not the number of aircraft but whether they could actually be used.
“The problem was not the number of aerial assets but the ability to use them,” Tournas said, noting that extreme winds can prevent even a strong fleet from operating.
The government is also planning to acquire seven new Canadair firefighting aircraft through the country’s “AIGIS” civil protection program.
Delivery of the seven aircraft is expected to be completed by 2031, with the first aircraft scheduled to arrive in 2028.
Tournas clarified that the new Canadairs will be capable of flying at night for repositioning, but that this “does not mean nighttime water collection and drops on fires.”
Human error remains major fire cause
Tournas said human negligence remains a major factor in the outbreak of wildfires.
From the beginning of the year through September 30, authorities made 359 arrests through the immediate arrest procedure. Of those, 318, or 88.58%, were for negligent arson, while 41, or 11.42%, were for intentional arson.
Authorities also imposed 838 administrative fines totaling €1.438 million.
In September alone, 81 fines were imposed and 35 arrests were made, according to the minister.
Local governments, meanwhile, largely cooperated with authorities both in preventive measures and in responding to fires, Tournas said.
Declarations concerning the cleaning of plots of land had reached approximately 776,000 by early September.
Greece upgrades emergency warning system
Tournas also highlighted the role of 112, Greece’s emergency communications system, saying it “saves lives.”
Authorities are moving ahead with an upgrade to the system through Next Generation 112.
Artificial intelligence is also already being used in wildfire prevention, particularly for surveillance and early detection, he said.
Tournas rules out 2027 election bid
Asked about his political future, Tournas said he will not be a candidate in the 2027 elections.
“My priority is the work at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and the continuous strengthening of the mechanism for protecting citizens,” he said.
