Municipality of Athens on high alert due to very high fire risk (Category 4)
Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The Municipality of Athens is on high alert due to a very high fire risk (Category 4) predicted for Attica.
- Services are implementing a Civil Protection plan, including 24-hour patrols and drone surveillance of green spaces.
- The municipality is also providing support for homeless individuals and stray animals during the heatwave.
The Municipality of Athens has placed its services on heightened operational readiness in anticipation of a very high fire risk, categorized as Level 4, predicted for the Attica region on Friday, July 17.
In accordance with the municipality's Civil Protection plan, various departments are taking proactive measures. Teams from the Cleaning and Greenery Directorates are on 24-hour standby, conducting patrols. Municipal Police are monitoring green spaces and high-risk areas using ground patrols and drones equipped with thermal cameras to detect critical temperature changes swiftly.
Water tankers are on continuous standby, and the Civil Protection Contractors Registry has been activated. Three fire-fighting vehicles with cannons will be deployed: two at the Municipality's Children's Holiday Camps in Agios Andreas, Attica, and one in Lycabettus. The Municipal Police Operations Center will operate 24/7, coordinating with the Fire Service, relevant authorities, and other municipalities as needed.
To protect vulnerable populations, the municipality's Streetwork teams are actively engaging with homeless individuals, offering cool water, beverages, snacks, and essential protection kits. For stray animals, the Municipality's Urban Fauna service has installed over 130 drinking troughs across the capital, maintained by the service and volunteers. Citizens are urged to contribute by keeping these troughs filled with fresh, cool water.
Finally, the Municipality of Athens strongly advises citizens to exercise extreme caution and avoid actions that could inadvertently cause fires. For any issues or concerns, residents can contact the 24-hour Citizen Service Line at 1595.
Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.