European firefighters throw themselves into the battle to deal with forest fires in our country – Photo

In the battle to deal with forest fires, they are almost thrown 200 European firefighters as part of the pre-positioning pilot project that started yesterday Friday.

Firefighters mainly young, up to 30 years old, from 6 countries namely Bulgaria, France, Germany, Norway, Romania and Finland will be based in Athens, Larissa and Tripoli for the months of July and August to assist in extinguishing forest fires with both pedestrian and motorized units.

According to information, the delegation of the Romanians, the French and the Bulgarians will consist of motorized sections with their own vehicles, while the Germans, the Finns and the Norwegians will be pedestrian sections that will bring their own pumps and pipes that will adapt them to the Greek cars so that they can operate. In fact, the mission from Norway will bring with it an unmanned aircraft (drone) in order to contribute more effectively to the fight against forest fires.

As Vassilis Bikas, the deputy director and coordinator of the Greek Association of Officers of Foreign Missions, explains to APE-MBE, the European firefighters will always have with them a Greek officer of the Fire Department who will act as a link between them and the Greek Firefighters. Specifically, in Athens there will be 3 officers of the Fire Brigade who will act as liaisons, while in Tripoli and Larissa, one to two. “That is, in the event that there is an incident and an order is given to go over and cooperate, they will always have a Greek officer with them. First the Greek firefighters will go and then they will go as a second response so that they all work together, always together with Greek firefighters in the field and a Greek officer”, emphasizes Mr. Bikas.

In more detail, yesterday July 1st, the first mission of European firefighters from Romania arrived by road in Athens, bringing with them their own vehicles. The Romanian mission consists of 28 people with 5 operational vehicles and will be installed until July 31 in Athens. During July, the Romanian firefighters will change their shift once as on July 15 they will be replaced by 28 other colleagues from Romania, who will stay in Athens until July 31. From the 1st of August, 25 French firefighters (motorized units) with 4 operational vehicles and 3 auxiliary vehicles will be deployed in Athens until the end of the month. In fact, the French delegation is expected to include firefighters who have been called to deal with forest fires in Corsica. At the same time, the mission from Bulgaria, which has 16 firefighters with 4 vehicles, is already in Larissa and from today until July 31 will be able to cooperate with the Greek firefighters. In addition, on July 15 or 16 he is expected to settle in Tripoli the hiking section from Germany which will consist of 16 people and will remain there until July 31. They will then be replaced by 14 Norwegian colleagues, while on August 2, 24 firefighters from Finland will settle in Tripoli. During August, Norwegians and Finns will change shifts once, as they will be replaced by 14 and 24 colleagues respectively.

The pre-positioning pilot project started this year and is being implemented through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, with the support of the European Commission and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič. For the first time, the country will host firefighters from 6 European countries in advance in order to help Greece’s fire protection and exchange know-how with their Greek colleagues. In addition, through the program, it is possible to intervene more immediately during the occurrence of fires without losing valuable time for the transfer of forces.

“The installation of European firefighters in Greece takes place in the context of the exchange of know-how, experience and firefighting tactics, at the same time strengthening the work of the Greek firefighters who are in the field from the first minute, fighting for the protection of human life, property and the natural environment of our Motherland. In the twenty-year history of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, Greece plays an important role as it has so far been reinforced 16 times while offering its help to our fellow European citizens 45 times. We respond to the challenge of the climate crisis with the cooperation and solidarity of the countries of Europe”, he points out to APE- MPE the leader and coordinator of Greek Associations of Officers of Foreign Missions, Vassilis Bikas.

The preparation of European firefighters began this week as 9 heads of missions from Bulgaria, France, Romania and Finland took part in lifelong training conducted by experienced Fire and Civil Protection officers, while 4 heads of missions of Germany, Norway attended the training online. The heads of missions were informed about the system of organization and response of the Fire Brigade to forest fires in order to familiarize them and adapt to the Greek fire environment, while they also visited the National Coordination Center for Crisis Management (E.S.K.E.D.I.C. ) of the Fire Department. At the same time, they carried out an exercise near Magoula Attica, in a virtual incident to deal with a forest fire in Attica, during which a team of the Motorized Special Fire Operations Department (METPE) as well as a pedestrian department from the newly established Special Forest Operations Unit (EMODE) cooperated. , of Attica. 1 Agusta Bell firefighting helicopter took part in the demonstration, which carried out water drops, to support the work of the ground forces that had been deployed in the field of operations.

It is noted that a welcome ceremony is being held by the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Christos Stylianidis, at the Fire Academy, for the mission of the Romanian firefighters who arrived in the country yesterday.

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