“The Civil Protection forces have managed in these days of heat wave to deal directly with dozens of dangerous fires before they have time to threaten lives and property,” Kikilias said, noting that “today will be even more difficult” and noting that the state mechanism is on alert. At the same time, he calls on citizens to demonstrate empathy and responsibility.
Here is the full statement of the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection:
“The early start of the fires, coupled with the dry winter, brings us face to face with an extremely difficult fire season. At the same time, our firefighters are also battling urban fires. They fought such a tough battle yesterday afternoon at the factory in Kifissia, in an extremely dangerous fire, which they managed to contain in time, before it spread to adjacent facilities, with disastrous, as we all understand, consequences.
Civil Protection forces have managed in these heatwave days to deal directly with dozens of dangerous fires before they could threaten lives and property. Indicatively, yesterday our firefighters fought with the flames in the fires in Messinia, Rhodes, Evros, Zakynthos and in the evening in Boeotia, while the times they managed to contain them ranged from 15 minutes to a maximum of two hours. But today will be even more difficult, as according to meteorologists’ forecasts, we expect strong winds in some places, with extreme temperatures reaching even 43 degrees.
I will not stop to warn that untold damage can be caused not only by intentional arsonists, but especially by negligent arsonists, who against the express prohibition insist on taking risks by doing dangerous work in the countryside. The state apparatus is on the alert. I call on our fellow citizens in turn to show empathy and responsibility.”
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