Greece extends deadline for land clearing amid heightened fire risk

Greece has extended the deadline for citizens to clear and declare their private land plots until June 22. This decision, made upon the recommendation of the Risk Assessment Committee, comes after recent rainfall provided a short reprieve before the full onset of the fire season. Officials emphasize the need to exceed last year's clearing numbers not for record-keeping, but to significantly reduce combustible material.

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We must exceed last year's number of clearings, not because it's a record, but because it's necessary to reduce the fuel load.

More than 400,000 clearings have been declared on the special platform so far, a figure that fell short of last year's total of 730,000 declarations. The government reiterated the penalties for non-compliance with these mandatory clearing and declaration obligations. Prevention is highlighted as the most effective defense against forest fires, and citizens are urged to use the extended period to complete their duties.

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Citizens have the responsibility to clear their property to protect their property, their lives, and the lives of their neighbors.

Officials stressed that citizens bear the responsibility for clearing their properties to protect their homes, lives, and those of their neighbors. The effectiveness of these clearings is evident daily in firefighting operations: where plots are cleared, fires stop before reaching homes, but unmanaged land allows fires to spread rapidly during high winds.

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Where the plots are cleared, the fire stops, it does not reach the houses. Where they are uncleared, the fire runs with great speed when we have strong winds.

The country has experienced exceptionally lush vegetation growth due to heavy rainfall in recent months. This abundance of fuel, combined with anticipated high temperatures and strong winds, creates a heightened risk of numerous ignitions and rapid fire propagation. The removal of combustible material is a shared responsibility among the state, local authorities, and citizens. The Ministry of Environment and Energy is allocating 82 million euros this year for clearing peripheral forests through the Antinero program, funded by the Recovery Fund. Over the past five years, 660 million euros have been dedicated to prevention efforts, with significant support also provided to municipalities for similar interventions.

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These are excellent systems. They are in the air 24 hours a day. They give us an image day and night and allow us to have early warning for immediate intervention.