Greece is ramping up its efforts to combat wildfires this summer by nearly doubling its drone fleet and deploying a record number of firefighting personnel, officials announced on Thursday.
Civil Protection Minister Ioannis Kefalogiannis stated that 18,000 permanent and seasonal firefighters — supported by thousands of volunteers — will be mobilized to tackle the increasing wildfire risk, which has steadily worsened over the past 20 years.
The surge in wildfire threats is largely attributed to rising temperatures and prolonged dry periods, both intensified by climate change. Greek Fire Chief Lt. Gen. Theodoros Vagias told the Associated Press that additional elite units will be stationed in high-risk regions during the official fire season, which spans from May 1 to October 31.
According to the EU’s Forest Fire Information System, wildfire damage in Greece reached over 1,300 square kilometers in 2021 and climbed to 1,745 square kilometers in 2023 — nearly triple the average annual loss recorded between 2011 and 2020.
On Thursday, Greek authorities conducted a large-scale training exercise to evaluate their updated wildfire response strategy. The drill featured fire-fighting aircraft performing low-level water drops, while commanders used real-time drone footage streamed to tablets for coordination. The coast guard and military also participated in a simulated evacuation of a children’s summer camp threatened by multiple fire fronts.
