Greek authorities have issued a category 4 (orange) fire alert for Friday, August 23, warning of a “very high risk of fire” across multiple regions in the country.
According to the fire risk prediction heat map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, several regions are at high risk of wildfires:
The regions included in the “category 4 risk” fire alert are Attica, Argolida, Samos, and parts of Boeotia, Evia, Corinth, Ikaria, Lesvos, Chios, and Psara. Additionally, there is a high fire risk, classified as category 3, in much of the remaining island regions and several areas of the country.
Based on the risk 4 category forecast, competent authorities have activated the second stage of operational readiness for the Fire Brigade which involves aerial surveillance patrols, as well as patrols by fire engines, police, and military forces.
Furthermore, fire service personnel in these areas have been placed on partial standby to handle the increased operational demands that may arise due to the very high fire risk.
In addition, authorities have implemented the Civil Protection Action Plan to address forest fire risks for the areas in the orange category high risk. This includes, among other measures, the enforcement of a preventive ban on vehicle circulation and the presence of visitors in national parks, forests, and “vulnerable” areas.
