Greek Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas has ordered state emergency services to reach maximum readiness ahead of extreme wildfire risks tomorrow.
Authorities issued a Category 5 alarm, the highest level on the national hazard scale, for Attica, Argolis, Lesbos, Boeotia, and Euboea. Numerous other areas across Greece have been placed under Category 4, representing a very high danger level.
Tournas instructed agencies to deploy forces early in the field to minimize response times. He also mandated increased readiness for heavy construction machinery and water tankers positioned at pivotal locations.
The directives were delivered during an emergency meeting of the Civil Protection Coordination Body. General Secretary of Civil Protection Nikos Papaefstathiou convened the session following severe weather forecasts from the national Risk Assessment Committee.
Extreme weather conditions and field operations
The Risk Assessment Committee warned that gale force winds will sweep across large portions of Greece over the coming days. Tournas emphasized that the nation is entering a new cycle of exceptionally harsh conditions that heighten fire hazards.
To counter the threat, the minister called for an immediate expansion of both ground and aerial patrols. He stressed that success depends on close coordination between the Fire Service, the Hellenic Police, the Armed Forces, local municipalities, and volunteer groups.
Greece relies on a five point risk index to prepare for summer wildfires, with Category 5 signifying extreme conditions where fires can spread rapidly and uncontrollably. Attica includes the metropolitan area of Athens, while Euboea and Lesbos are major Aegean islands with extensive forested terrain that has suffered severe burn damage in recent summers. Argolis sits in the eastern Peloponnese, and Boeotia lies in central Greece.
During the opening of the meeting, Tournas highlighted the ongoing operational strain on emergency responders. Firefighters currently handle between 40 and 50 new blazes every day while recovering from a demanding stretch of major, consecutive wildfires fought in adverse weather.
Public warnings and agency readiness
Tournas issued a firm appeal to citizens across the country, stressing that even minor negligence could spark a fire that turns dangerous within minutes under current conditions. He added that the situation requires maximum caution, vigilance, and personal responsibility from every resident to protect human life, property, and forests.
The minister reaffirmed that zero complacency can be permitted during this high risk window. He stated that the entire state apparatus remains fully mobilized, with all operational units held in a state of heightened readiness.
Power grid operator ADMIE and distribution provider DEDDIE attend national coordination meetings to safeguard electrical infrastructure during extreme fire weather. High voltage transmission lines and distribution stations are vulnerable to flame damage, while fallen lines or transformer sparks can ignite dry vegetation during severe wind conditions.
The coordination session brought together top officials from emergency services and state agencies. Attendees included Fire Service Chief Lieutenant General Theodoros Vagias, Hellenic Police Chief Lieutenant General Dimitrios Mallios, and Hellenic Coast Guard Chief Vice Admiral Christos Kontorouchas.
Coordination across regional commands
Forestry Director General Evangelos Gkountoufas represented the Ministry of Environment and Energy, alongside Peloponnese Governor Dimitrios Ptochos. Medical leadership was represented by Kalliopi Salteri, Director of Medical Services at the National Centre for Emergency Care, which operates emergency ambulances across Greece.
Regional security coordinators included Lieutenant General Nikolaos Spyridakis for Southern Greece and Lieutenant General Georgios Papadopoulos for Northern Greece. Major General Nikolaos Gretsas attended as General Commander of the Construction and Natural Disaster Management Command, a military unit that provides heavy machinery and structural support during natural disasters.
Rear Admiral Georgios Christianos represented the Hellenic Coast Guard headquarters branch for operations and policing. Regional civil protection officials included Polychronis Bairaktaris and Nikos Passas from Attica, Konstantinos Pnevmatikos from Central Greece, and Kostas Aronis from Lesbos.
Infrastructure executives Ioannis Maniatis of ADMIE and Nikos Skiathitis of DEDDIE participated alongside representatives from regional authorities, law enforcement, and maritime forces. State agencies will maintain full mobilization and strategic field positioning as weather conditions evolve over the coming days.
