The summer season in Greece is at the outset, but daily Ta Nea reports that the country’s Fire Department is short-staffed. Several fire trucks are immobiliized due to lack of tires and spare parts. Aircraft are very old and therefore are grounded while the Department also faces shortages in basic equipment due to drastic reductions in funding.

Firefighters are currently forced to work overtime to meet the Fire Department’s needs. That, coupled with an increase of vegetation in forests due to winter rains, means that there are more fire hazards. Data released by the Fire Department shows that fires have increased by 55.4% compared to the same period last year. The majority of forest fires occur due to negligence. Two fires that have already  plagued the Peloponnese burnt 6 hectares of burnt woodland and 2 hectares of burnt olive trees.