Yesterday (Tuesday, April 23) in the morning, the Local Operational Coordinating Body for Civil Protection (T.E.S.O.P.P.) of the Municipality of Patrea, under the Deputy Mayor of Civil Protection Michalis Anastasiou, held a meeting to review the flood season and the coordination of actions in view of the new fire fighting season, the taking of necessary preventive and repressive measures to deal with forest fires.
In his presentation, the Deputy Mayor stated, among other things:
“With the end of this year’s anti-flood season, we thank once again the Services and the workers who contributed to the prevention of dangerous situations from flood phenomena, but also to dealing with them within the boundaries of our Municipality.
It is a common belief that the comprehensive treatment of flood phenomena, with the aim of safety and protection of life and the environment, requires brave state funding, but also the availability of the required means and scientific specialized human resources. This is what our people, our Municipality, like all Municipalities lack.
For this reason, even for the “simplest” things, such as cleaning the irrigation ditches, our Municipality is obliged to finance the necessary operations from the municipal budget. However, large-scale infrastructure projects, which are able to mitigate the risk and disasters that occur in the event of very intense phenomena (there are many examples), cannot be carried out by our Municipality, due to the lack of financial resources and personnel and continue to they are a potential danger for our region.
In terms of taking measures to deal with forest and rural fires, the fire protection season in our country starts from May 1st and ends on October 31st. The actions of the Office of Civil Protection for the fire fighting season, regarding the prevention and preparedness to deal with risks due to forest fires, in the midst of inhibiting factors (lack of personnel and sufficient funding), are the following:
– A first meeting has already been held, in collaboration with the PY, with the Volunteer Groups to define the positions they will monitor during the 2024 fire fighting season.
– The Office of Civil Protection will immediately update the plan for dealing with emergencies due to forest fires, which will be sent to the relevant services.
– The Civil Protection Office drafted the Memorandum of Actions for the Organized Removal of Citizens.
– The public organizations DEDDIE, OSE, Archaeological Service of Patras, University of Patras, 6th Ministry of Health, Holy Metropolis, OAED were informed in writing (10/4/2024) to carry out preventive cleaning of their properties to avoid fire, where it is their obligation .
– It was publicly announced the responsibility of the plot owners to take care, in accordance with the 20/2023 Fire-fighting Decree, for the deforestation of their properties from grass, as well as the owners of plots, whose properties abut on Municipal-Agricultural roads, to proceed with the cutting of the branches which grow towards the roads and make it difficult for firefighting vehicles to move.
– An information leaflet on the obligation of owners to clean their properties has already been sent through the accounts of DEYAP.
– Activating employees and ensuring the readiness of the Municipality’s vehicles, in accordance with the memorandum of actions for forest fires.
– We cooperate with the Fire Service and Voluntary Forest Protection Associations, with Local Councils and fire safety groups by region, to patrol dangerous areas.
– We have fire trucks (dakotas) in volunteer groups.
– Activation of voluntary Civil Protection organizations in forest surveillance actions during the fire prevention season, for the early identification of forest fires, as well as their response.
– Cleaning areas where flammable materials are collected in cooperation with the Fire Service.
– Actions have been launched to hire temporary staff for a period of three months for the needs of fire safety and forest protection.
– We intervene with the Municipality’s machinery on rural roads to restore them, so that the fire engines can pass through.
– DEYPAP repairs and installs new hydrants where possible.
The signing of the contract for cleaning streets and common areas is expected from the Directorate of Environment and Greenery.
The tender was held by the Maintenance Department and is expected to be awarded to a contractor for the maintenance of roads for access by firefighting vehicles.
Finally, the staff of the Civil Protection Office will be on hand 24 hours a day to deal with any problems, as every year, and with the experience they have, they will contribute substantially to the actions of fire protection, as, of course, will the staff of the non-Municipal Services involved, but and the associations and groups of volunteers with their significant contribution”.
At the meeting of the Coordinating Body, the following members of the Body attended: Alexia Kardara, head of the Autonomous Civil Protection Department of the Municipality, Vassilis Martzaklis, Commander of the Fire Services of Achaia, Giorgos Kolokotsas Commander of the 1st Fire Station of Patras, the Police Director of Achaia Paraskevas Masouris, the Police Deputy Directors Nikos Kostopoulos, from the 1st Police Department, Christos Amtzopoulos from the 2nd Police Department and Nikos Meidanis from the 3rd Police Department, Michalis Kostakis and Evdokia Tyrodimou from the Central Port Authority, George Maragos and Styliani Karamolegkou from the University Hospital Odoropoulos Governor of the Hospital “St. Andreas”, Fotis Dimakopoulos from “Karamandanio”, Konstantinos Oikonomou from the Patras Forestry Department and Evangelos Rozakos from the Patras Traffic Police.
MEETING WITH PRESIDENTS OF BRACHNEIKI, PARALIA AND MESSATIDA.
Yesterday afternoon, the Deputy Mayor of Civil Protection, Michalis Anastasiou together with Vassilis Martzaklis, Commander of the Fire Services of Achaia convened a meeting with the Presidents of the Municipal Communities of Vrachneiki, Paralia and Messatida. During the meeting, the great importance of prevention and preparedness that must be shown by the Local Communities was emphasized.
For this reason, Mr. Anastasiou asked the Presidents to take care of the cleaning of the properties from dry grass, but also for the pruning of trees that prevent the passage of fire engines and at the same time to inform all their fellow villagers about the protection of human life life and property in case of emergency. The obligation of plot owners and usufructuary for their immediate cleaning was emphasized once again.
The establishment of fire safety groups from citizens who will have the responsibility of monitoring their villages, so that in the event of an incident there is as immediate intervention and response as possible, was proposed.
On the same wavelength and Mr. Martzaklis, who asked for the cooperation and direct communication of the Presidents, but also of all the residents with the service, in the daily fight to prevent fires, as we approach the summer season, which is expected to be difficult.
The meeting was attended by: Spyridon Kaspiris President D.K. Saravaliou, Yiannis Bakalaros President T.K. Kallithea, Angeliki League – I wrote President D.K. Obryas, Giorgos Tzouramanis President T.K. Krinis, Yiannis Panitsas President T.K. Kaminion, Angelos Goudanis President D.K. Vrachneikon, Yiannis Dettorakis President of the Environmental Health Protection Association of K.Y. Chalandritsas and Konstantinos Plotas, member of the Environmental Health Protection Association of the KY area. Chalandritsa.
Next Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. a similar meeting is planned in Rio.
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