Burning in the cold: Greece battles with fires all year long

In 2019, a total of 9,500 forest fires were recorded across Greece by the fire service, an additional 1,500 compared to 2018, according to data obtained from Greece’s fire service’s annual fire reports, while early 2020 data published by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) indicates that the amount of land scorched by wildland fires is larger than the previous year.

The worst hit prefecture in terms of number of fires is Elis (672), followed by Larissa (590) and Messenia (532).

However, the most affected prefecture for 2019 in terms of acres burned is Evia, with more than 35,500 stremmata having been consumed by flames. Of these, about 30,000 were burned in the large fire of August 13 that broke out in central Evia, in the municipality of Dirfys – Messapia, where a dense pine forest was devoured by blaze, part of which was a Natura 2000 candidate.

Following Evia, the second worst hit prefecture by acres burned is that of Larissa (31,630 stremmata), succeeded by Pella (9,053). The prefectures with the largest forest areas lost to fire are Evia (29683.10), Pella (7974.80) and Zakynthos (6,222.0).

In 2019, more than 43,000 stremmata of forest land and 34,000 of woodland area (forest expanses) were burned, followed by agricultural and grassland areas.

Α forest, according to par. 1 of Article 3 of Law 998/79, is the organic whole of wild plants with woody trunk on the necessary area of ground which, together with the flora and fauna coexisting there, constitute by means of their mutual interdependence and interaction, a particular biocoenosis (forest biocoenosis) and a particular natural environment (forest-derived).

Α forest expanse, as defined in par. 2 of the same Law, exists when, in the abovementioned whole (forest), the wild woody vegetation, either high or shrubbery, is sparse.

Α Grassland, is in-between a forest and an agricultural land. Grasslands are not cultivated systematically, they are covered in wild woody plants to a lesser extent and they do not meet the requirements to be classified as forest areas. However, mountain grasslands enjoy a protected status under forest legislation and are considered as forest areas.

Crop residues result from agricultural activities and fruit harvesting. Farmers are accustomed to burning farm waste, but when safety rules are not followed, fires spread to nearby areas. The majority of fires in the winter months are linked to fires that got out of control after being set by farmers to burn crop waste.

Swamps are areas of land flooded with stagnant freshwater and typically vegetated with reeds.

A grove is a small forest located in or near residential areas.

Garbage dumps are sites for the disposal of waste materials.

Agricultural land is land exclusively devoted to agriculture.

The majority of fires are caused either by negligent or intentional conduct. According to published fire service’s data for 2018, 50% of forest and 45% of agricultural fires were intentionally set. Negligence accounted for 25% and 40% of forest and agricultural fires, respectively. In 2018, 243 lawsuits were filed, 186 of which were tied to negligence and 57 to arson.

What has happened in 2020

According to research conducted by expert Andrianos Gourbatsis, retired fire lieutenant and Deputy Chief of the Greek Fire Service, between January 1 and October 1, 2020, more than 11,900 wildfires broke out across the country, burning more than 152 stremmata of land area. The analysis of data obtained from the fire service regarding the same period for 2019 indicated that about 142,000 stremmata were burned. The main cause of fire, according to Mr. Gourbatsis’ research, is the practice of burning dry grasses in fields or other open spaces as well as crop residue burning. Of the 11,931 fires, causes were determined for only 46 cases and a total of 54 arrests were made.