Fire danger is very high for five areas today Wednesday – view forecast map

A very high fire risk is expected today (risk category 4) Wednesday According to the Fire Risk Map published by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr), fire risk forecast maps for several regions of the country are showing.

The fire danger is very high today

Very high fire risk (risk category 4):

• Attica Region (including Kythira Island)
• Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia)
• Peloponnese (Corinthia, Argolis, Laconia)
• Crete Region
• North Aegean (Mytilene, Chios, Samos, Ikaria)

See the areas at very high risk today (Tuesday 31 July) on the map

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr) has notified the competent government agencies involved in the official services, as well as the regional and municipal governments in the above-mentioned areas, so that they can strengthen civil protection preparedness to respond immediately to any fire incidents.

Five types of risks

There are four normal risk categories on the map, low, medium, high and very high, rated with numbers from 1 to 4. Category 5 rarely appears on the map. This category corresponds to the alert status.

The meaning of the above risk categories is analyzed as follows:

• Risk Category 1 (Low)

The risk is low. The probability of a fire is not particularly high. Once a fire occurs, the conditions (fuel conditions, meteorological conditions) are not conducive to its rapid development.

• Risk Category 2 (Medium)

This risk is common during the summer months. The potential fires are expected to be of medium difficulty.

• Risk Category 3 (High)

The risk is high. More fires are likely, many of which will be difficult to handle when local conditions are favorable (topography, local winds, etc.).

• Risk Category 4 (Very High)

The risk is particularly high. The number of fires expected to occur is likely to be large, but most importantly, each fire has the potential to grow in size if it escapes initial spread.

• Risk Category 5 (Alert State)

The risk is extremely high. The number of fires expected to occur is likely to be very high. All fires that are likely to occur will grow rapidly and develop extreme behavior immediately after they occur. Control is expected to be very difficult until the conditions under which fires occur change.

At the same time, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection advises citizens to:

To achieve this, there are some helpful tips that we can all easily follow, especially during the summer:

To avoid fire

• We avoid outdoor hot work that could cause a fire (welding, using wheels or other tools that create sparks)
• In the summer, we don’t light an outdoor grill (grill) in the woods or in areas with dry grass and branches.
• We avoid bees smoking and do not leave burning residues in the open air as they may reignite and cause a fire
• We will not, under any circumstances, burn hay, branches, reeds and garbage in the open air.
• We never threw lit cigarettes or matches out of the car window, not even when we were in the woods
• We do not leave rubbish in the forest because of the risk of fire, nor do we leave glass bottles in the forest because they can cause fires in dry grass through solar radiation.
• We do not use fireworks in areas close to woodland.
• We never park our vehicles in areas with dry grass. The risk of fire is obvious as the catalytic converter of the car will continue to overheat for a considerable period of time after the engine is turned off.
• We know that sparks from exhaust fumes of all types of vehicles can create conditions conducive to fires.
• During high risk periods we always adhere to forest no-entry signs

Once a fire is discovered we must take immediate action

• Call 199 immediately and give clear information about your location and exact location, as well as information about where exactly you saw the fire.

• We describe the types of vegetation that burn
• We determine the direction of the fire
• We will inform you of the strength and direction of the wind in the area
• Calls to this number are free from both landlines and mobiles. Also, card phones do not require a calling card. If your phone displays “Emergency Call” or “Out of Network Call” 112which is also the emergency number for the entire European Union. It is free to use from all landlines and mobile phones.

At the same time, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection advises citizens to:

If you are outdoors

• Do not burn trash or dry grass and branches in the summer.
• Avoid lighting an outdoor grill in the woods or in areas with dry grass during the summer.
• Avoid work that could cause a fire (such as welding, using wheels or other tools that produce sparks).
• Do not throw away lit cigarettes.
• Don’t litter in the forest. There is a risk of fire.
• Follow visit restrictions during high-risk periods.

If your house is located in or near a forest

• Create a fire zone around the house by clearing away dry grass and leaves, pine needles and branches within a radius of at least 10 meters.
• Depending on the age and condition of the tree, the trees are pruned to a height of 3 meters.
• Remove dry branches from trees and shrubs.
• Do not let branches touch the walls, roofs and balconies of the house. When pruning them, keep at least 5 meters away from the house.
• Thinning woody vegetation so that the branches of one tree are at least 3 meters away from the branches of another tree. To provide greater protection, we clear woody and underbrush vegetation at a distance of at least 10 meters around the building, as the clearing of natural vegetation to protect the building does not conflict with the provisions of forestry legislation.
• Do not install plastic gutters or pipes on the walls of your home.
• Do not install shutters made of flammable materials on windows and balcony doors.
• Make sure the covers on your home’s chimneys and vents are made of non-combustible materials to prevent sparks from entering.
• Do not store flammable items near the house.
• Keep firewood in an enclosed and protected area.
• Do not build uncapped oil tanks near homes.
• Get the right fire extinguishers and maintain them.
• Equip yourself with a gardening hose that is as long as the area you want to protect.
• Equip yourself with a water tank, a simple pump that works without electricity, and a water hose.

If a fire is approaching your home

• keep Calm.
• Move all flammable materials around the building to an enclosed and protected area.
• Close all access points (chimneys, windows, doors, etc.) to prevent embers from seeping into the house.
• Turn off natural gas and liquid fuel supplies inside and outside the home.
• Install awnings on balconies and windows.
• Open the garden gate to allow fire trucks to enter and exit easily.
• Place a ladder on the outside of the house, in the opposite direction of the fire, so that you can directly reach the roof.
• Attach the watering hose and spread it out to cover the perimeter of the house.
• If visibility is reduced, turn on interior and exterior lights to see through the smoke.

Once the fire is over

• Leave the house and extinguish any remaining small fires immediately.
• Check the perimeter and exterior areas of your property regularly for any emergencies every 48 hours at least.

If the fire has spread to your home

• Do not leave the building unless escape is absolutely assured.
• Don’t get in your car. You are much more likely to survive in a home made of non-combustible materials than in a car surrounded by smoke and flames.

If you stay home:

• Close doors and windows tightly.
• Seal the cracks with a damp cloth to prevent smoke from entering.
• Remove curtains from windows.
• Move furniture inside the room near windows and outside doors.
• Close the center door to slow the spread of fire.
• Fill bathtubs, sinks, and buckets with excess water.
• Everyone gathered in one room.
• Make sure you carry a flashlight and spare batteries in case of a power outage.
• If your house is made of wood, seek shelter in a built home.
• If an evacuation of the area is ordered, strictly follow the instructions of the authorities and the routes provided to you.