Firefighting: Improved picture in Dadia, limited resurgence in Vrisa

The situation in the very difficult fire in Soufli Evrou, in the forest of Dadia, has improved, as the press representative of the Fire Brigade, fire chief Giannis Artopaios, pointed out in a briefing held.

In particular, he stated that the image from the south-southwest front is good, while the rest of the fire has been demarcated since yesterday. There are only, as he said, scattered small outbreaks called “sparklights” in firefighting terminology, where the aerial means are working there, while the effort by the ground means for possible rekindling is also undiminished.

In the fire in Dadia, 320 firefighters with 13 groups of pedestrian departments and 75 vehicles are working continuously, while 5 aircraft and 11 helicopters, including one for aerial coordination, periodically operate from the air throughout the day.

In addition to ground and aerial firefighting operations, additional fire zones are simultaneously being established with heavy-duty earthmoving equipment to allow forest rangers and infantry units to have better access within the dense forest ecosystem.

The Forestry Services of Evros continue to support the firefighting project with the loggers, the General Staff of the National Defense, which has made available 8 project machines and 1 “Deucalion” team consisting of 36 officers and 4 water vehicles, while the P.E. Evros has allocated 3 water vehicles and 9 project machines.

All fire services in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace have been put on general alert.

Firefighting operations are currently underway in Lesbos. According to Mr. Artophios, due to strong gusts of north-east wind, large spots were created from the location of Lagada, resulting in the creation of a new front, which moved towards the village of Vrisa. A message was immediately sent from 112 for an organized preventive evacuation of citizens from Vrisa to Polichnitos.

As he pointed out, the operation was completed immediately, while the intervention of the police and fire brigade was necessary to extricate two elderly residents of the village who remained in the settlement. Both are in good health.

At this moment, most of the resurgence has been contained, while the northern front remains active in a particularly difficult area. 85 firefighters, with 5 groups of pedestrian units, 21 vehicles, 8 aircraft and 1 helicopter are working on the Lesvos fire, while all the Fire Services of the Northern Aegean Region are on general alert. The General Staff of National Defense and volunteers also provide assistance.

At the same time, there is a fire in progress at the Tsakatoura location, where 21 firefighters with 2 groups of pedestrian units, 3 vehicles and 1 helicopter are working there.

For all incidents, local investigative offices as well as Divisions of the Arson Crimes Directorate (D.A.E.E.) investigate the causes of all fires.

The following is the full statement of Yiannis Artophios

Good evening from the Fire Department Operations Center.

We were called to deal with 89 forest fires in our country in the last 48 hours.

All of these fires were treated with the immediate response of the forest firefighting mechanism and most of them were brought under control in the first year.

In the very difficult fire in Soufli Evrou, in the forest of Dadia, Natura protected area, due to the dense forest material, the constant changes in wind direction and the inability to access, the main effort of the operations is focused on the active southwest front, while on the rest points, the situation is under control. Due to the strong east northeast wind blowing in the area, a partial spread of the already active southwest front leading to the Lefkimmi fire station was triggered.

A great and coordinated effort is being made by all the forces involved to create a new defense zone towards the paved road that leads to the ERT antennas. Due to the extensive opening of fire zones with heavy-duty earth-moving machinery, the possibility of the fire spreading from the A2 zone to the A1 zone, where the hard core of the Forest is located and is the colony of the rare black vulture species, has been prevented for the time being. his nests. 320 Firefighters with 13 teams of infantry departments and 75 vehicles operate continuously, while 5 aircraft and 9 helicopters periodically operate from the air throughout the day. In addition to the ground and aerial Firefighting operations, additional firefighting zones and lanes are simultaneously being created, with heavy-duty earthmoving machinery, in order to have better access for forest rangers and pedestrian units within the dense forest ecosystem that prevents the access of the Firefighters.

The General Staff of National Defense has made available 8 project machines and 1 “Deucalion” team consisting of 36 officers, 4 water vehicles, while the P.E. Evros has made available 3 water vehicles and 8 project machines.

Equally important assistance is provided by the Forestry Services of Evros with the loggers, who thin out the fuel and create additional fire zones and lanes.

The assistance of the Local Self-Government of the A’ and B’ degree is important.

Greek Police forces remain in the area.

The effective coordination of all forces involved that started from the first moment in this very difficult firefighting operation continues.

We thank once again all the agencies that help us in the field.

All Fire Services of the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace are on general alert.

The picture from the firefighting operations in Lesvos is even more improved today. More specifically, at this time there is only a small active front east of Vrisa and more specifically in the stream of Lagada. There is currently no active front in the rest of the fire area. They operate 85 firefighters, with 5 teams of walking departments, 21 vehicles, 7 aircraft and 1 helicopter.

The General Staff of the National Defense has assisted with water tankers and project machinery for the opening of fire zones.

Greek Police forces remain in the area.

Many volunteer firefighters provide support.

All Fire Services of the North Aegean Region are on general alert.

A forest fire is in progress in a rocky area at Tsakatoura Grevena, where 21 firefighters with 2 groups of pedestrian units, 3 vehicles and 1 helicopter are operating.

A forest fire is in progress in Haidari that occurred at 15:27 at Mikro Schistos location, 70 firefighters with 2 groups of pedestrian sections, 23 vehicles, 2 aircraft, 2 helicopters are working, while volunteers and OTA water tankers are helping.

An agroforestry fire is ongoing in Mandra Attica that occurred at 17:05. They are operating 50 firefighters with 2 teams of pedestrian divisions, 22 vehicles and 5 aircraft and 3 helicopters, while the forces are constantly being reinforced. At 18:02, 112 was immediately activated for the precautionary evacuation of residents from the settlements of Neo Ponto and Nea Zoi to Mandra.

The forest fire that occurred in the municipality of Andritsaina-Krestena Ilia, as well as the other forest fires, is in remission.

For all incidents, local investigative offices, as well as Divisions of the Arson Crimes Directorate (D.A.E.E.), investigate the causes of the fires.

From 22-7-2022 until today, 7 people have been arrested by Fire investigation officers, 6 of them for arson by intention and 1 for arson by negligence.

According to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat of Civil Protection, for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, a very high risk of fire (risk category 4) is predicted for the following areas:

Region of Attica

Region of Central Greece
Ladies and gentlemen, every day we fight forest fire fighting to protect the most precious asset which is the safety of your life and property, as well as the preservation of our forest wealth.

Unfortunately, however, it has been observed that many fires have starting points in gross plots of land. Once again we appeal to the owners, Clean them immediately and take the products of this cleaning to a licensed place and do not deposit them on the sidewalks, thus demonstrating individual responsibility and social sensitivity.

Thank you.

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