Greece Reduces Burnt Land by 24% During Toughest Fire Season in Four Decades

Despite battling 4,500 fires during what experts have called Greece's toughest fire season in four decades, the country saw a 24% reduction in burnt land compared to the average over the last 20 years.

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vasilis Kikilias highlighted this achievement during an interview with Open TV.

Kikilias reported that only 1,430 hectares of forest were burned in 2024, significantly lower than the 20-year average of 11,600 hectares. He credited this success to the coordinated efforts of firefighters, volunteers, forest rangers, regional officials, and the armed forces.

Key strategies included a rapid response "all hands on deck" approach, enhanced training during the winter, and the use of drones for early fire detection. Aerial patrols over high-risk areas like Attica further improved response times.

Kikilias also praised the Mitsotakis government’s investment in civil protection, noting the allocation of €2.1 billion for new firefighting equipment, including seven new Canadair aircraft, helicopters, fire engines, and advanced technology like AI for detecting fires and floods.

Additionally, Kikilias emphasised the importance of education on climate resilience, suggesting it should start in schools.

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