Cholargos: “Hills” dry grass while the fire protection season begins – “We have become an Amazon” – Newsbomb – News

There are 15,000 permanent firefighters and 2,500 seasonal, but this alone is not enough, said Vassilis Kikilias

A few days before the start of the fire season there is a battle to clear land in urban and peri-urban areas that are close to forests.

THEi images captured by Alpha’s camera at Holargos, that is, within the urban fabric of Athens they are shocking. Residents are worried and say it takes a spark to make the area a fire hazard.

Kikilias: “We will have a very difficult fire season”

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilia presented the country’s new civil protection plan “AEGIS”, which includes more direct intervention of the mechanisms.

“It is a 2.1 billion euro program. Political parties and micropolitics elude the possibility of being able to proceed with tenders of 1.5 billion euros in 9 months for the country to have for the next 40 years 7 new Canadairs, 10 medium-type helicopters for firefighting and forest commando movement, 1,100 fire engines, 101 drones, weather stations and radar, all new. They start to be received after the fire protection period. Artificial intelligence and a central system to control all this, sensors, cameras”, said Mr. Kikilias speaking to MEGA.

“Personal protective equipment for firefighters is a top priority at AEGIS and personal protective equipment for volunteers. They have everything they need, there are more firefighters than ever before in the Civil Protection service, 15,000 permanent and 2,500 seasonal, but this alone is not enough. We are going into a very difficult fire seasonhe said.