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As climate change continues and communities grow outside of cities, wildfires become a nightmare for everyone every summer.

Many green spaces in Greece are particularly prone to the threat of wildfires. Dry conditions, extremely high temperatures, and strong winds are the perfect recipe for the spread of wildfires that sweep across vast areas every summer.

These terrible conditions can turn a minor mishap into a raging blaze. But remember, these dangerous events are mainly preventable.

Fire prevention is more important than you may realize.

If you want to avoid becoming part of the wildfire loss statistics, follow these general fire prevention measures to keep your home safe:

If you are outdoors

• Do not burn trash or dry grass and branches during the summer months.
• Do not light outdoor grills in the woods or areas with dry grasses in the summer.
• Avoid work that could cause a fire (e.g., welding, using a wheel, or other tool that creates sparks).
• Do not throw away lit cigarettes.
• Do not leave litter in the forest. There is a risk of ignition.
• Respect access restrictions during high-risk periods.

If your house is in or near a forest

• Create a fire zone around the house by clearing dry grass and leaves, pine needles, and branches in a radius of at least 10 meters.
• Prune trees up to a height of 3 meters, depending on their age and condition.
• Remove dry branches from trees and shrubs.
• Do not let tree branches touch the house's walls, roof, and balconies. Prune them, leaving a distance of at least 5 meters from the house.
• Thin the woody vegetation so that the branches of one tree are at least 3 meters from the branches of another. For even greater protection, we remove the woody and bushy vegetation around the building at a distance of at least 10 meters since the cleaning operations of the natural vegetation imposed to protect the buildings do not in any way conflict with the provisions of the forestry legislation.
• Do not install plastic gutters or pipes in the walls of the house.
• Do not install shutters made of flammable materials on windows and balcony doors.
• Make sure that covers on chimneys and vents in the house are made of non-combustible material to prevent sparks from entering.
• Do not store flammable items near the house.
• Place the firewood in closed and protected areas.
• Do not build uncovered fuel tanks near the house.
• Get the proper fire extinguishers and take care of their maintenance.
• Equip yourself with a watering hose that is as long as the area you want to protect.
• Equip yourself with a water tank, a simple pump that works without electricity, and a water hose.

As soon as you notice a fire:

Call the Fire Service IMMEDIATELY, tel. 199 and give clear information about:

• your area and exact location,
• the area, exact location, and direction of the fire,
• the type of vegetation being burned.

Get prepared!

If the fire is approaching your home:

• Keep your cool.
• Move all flammable materials from around the building to closed and protected areas.
• Close all passages (chimneys, windows, doors, etc.) so that the embers do not penetrate inside the house.
• Turn off natural gas and liquid fuel supplies inside and outside the home.
• Gather awnings - tents on balconies and windows.
• Facilitate access for fire engines by opening the garden gate.
• Place a ladder outside the house, opposite the direction of the fire, so that direct access to the roof is possible.
• Connect the watering pipes and spread them to cover the house's perimeter.
• Turn on its interior and exterior lights to see through the smoke if visibility is reduced.

If the fire has reached your home

• Do not leave the building unless your escape is fully assured.
• Do not get into a car. The probability of survival in a house made of non-combustible materials is much greater than that of a vehicle in smoke and flames.

If you stay at home:

• Close doors and windows tightly.
• Block the cracks with wet cloths to prevent smoke from entering.
• Remove the curtains from the windows.
• Move furniture near windows and exterior doors into rooms.
• Close intermediate doors to slow the spread of fire.
• Fill the bathtub, sinks, and buckets with spare water.
• Gather all together in one room.
• Ensure you have a flashlight and spare batteries in case of a power outage.

If your house is wooden, seek shelter in a concrete/brick-built house.

If an organized evacuation from the area is ordered, strictly follow the instructions of the Authorities and the routes that will be given to you.

Once the fire is over

• Leave the house and immediately extinguish the remaining small fires.
• Check for at least 48 hours, at regular intervals, the perimeter and exterior areas of the home for flare-ups.

The above protection instructions come from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection website; click here for more.