Putting out the Fire: Saving Greece's Forests

Attacking the Root

 "We put them out before they start". That's how Public Order Minister, Manolis Chrysohoidis, described the Fire Department's new policy in dealing with forest fires.

This effectively means that high-risk areas are closely monitored and fledgling blazes are caught early and attacked with a barrage of fire-fighting artillery. This strategy seems to be effective - last summer, all recorded blazes were contained to no than a 500-metre radius of the ignition point. In contrast, the summer of 1998 had 28 fires that spread beyond the half-kilometre mark.

 Arson Detection 

As of summer 2000, the Ministry of Public Order is setting up a new Arson Detection department. It will undertake the investigation of forest fires in which arson may have been involved, as well as the identification and arrest of perpetrators. According to Public Order Minister Chrysohoidis, "Until our ability to determine the causes of forest fires improves, our efforts at prevention will essentially remain shots in the dark" .

The new department will be comprised of specially trained personnel from the Forest Service. It will have access to police forensics laboratories and information on possible suspects. The department will follow the effective methodology developed in the United States in the 1980s, which has already been adopted by Spain with striking results.

Voluntary Initiatives 

Teams of volunteers, set up by local authorities, schools and non-governmental organisations, have also played a significant role in dealing with forest fires. Their participation - further encouraged by a special legal framework put forth by the Fire Department - consists mainly in patrolling high-risk areas. Volunteer groups are also vital in the reforestation of fire-ravaged soils neighbouring urban or other inhabited areas.