Greek "Wildfires": Not quite "wild"
Alexis Damdimopoulos
MSc Environmental and Natural Resource Economics. Talking about #foodwaste, #valorization, #economics, #agroforestry and their combination fortifying a sustainable future.
Disclaimer: The following article is based on personal experiences, as well source-backed information regarding the causation of fires in Greece. It is characterised by an intense personal emotional stake, so please excuse any exaggerations or overstatements. (Although, believe me they are not overstatements)
No, the photo above is not from Christopher Nolan's magnum opus, Oppenheimer. This is a photo from recent fires ravaging the area of Volos in Greece last week, just one of the numerous wildfires that occurred the past week, including the destructive fires of Rhodes and Corfu. This is a recurring theme of every Greek summer since most of us can remember ourselves, especially in the last 25 years. We have mourned forests, centurion trees, countless animals, insects, serpents even human lives, livelihoods and homes. We live in fear every summer if we, loved ones or people we know, are next. We take mental pictures of places we grew up in or connected with because we consciously know that this might be the last time we will see them unharmed. What is the cause of all this pain and destruction? Climate change, political neglect and apathy, maleficent intent or human error? All of the above have contributed to the living nightmare Greeks and other people of the European South have to live through every summer.
Living in constant fear.
I want to start from a personal point of view regarding this horror people and nature have to go through every summer. This year I visited Samothrace, an island in the Northern Aegean, on the edge of Greece near the borders with Turkey. Samothrace is blessed with thick forrest until its beach front, offering abundant shade and cool breeze even in the midst of summer. Due to this fact (and budgetary constraints for this summer), we decided to camp in the forest. Upon arrival, my first thought was to come up with an escape plan for me, my girlfriend and our friends, thinking how we would deal with a wildfire situation. I know, you might be thinking I am exaggerating but this is nothing but the truth. This thinking followed me for the first two nights, during which I woke up in a state of panic, smelling smoke, realising fortunately that it was coming from the beach and not the forest. I am sure that this is the reality of countless of my countrymen and countrywomen, living close to vegetation. During the summer months it seems more like a liability instead of a privilege living close to nature, constantly being reminded if that will be one the fire's targets this year.
Who's to blame?
Human error or ignorance?
Climate change. Yes, of course it is a huge issue, of which we are just scrapping the initial immense consequences. Long dry periods and severe heatwaves contribute to the factors of causing wildfires. But that's the tip of the iceberg. In Greece we have a profound problem of mentality and thinking. We put our own comfort and ease above logic and caution. How many times have we seen people throwing cigarettes outside their car window, or people pruning trees and burning the waste? Only a month ago, a fire opposite my house in suburban Athens, was caused because someone lit a fire to burn their wood waste, the wind was too strong, spreading the fire to a nearby plot and house. Human error? No. Human ignorance and hubris. Trying to address our fellow countrymen in a case like this, usually means you have to be constantly wired for at least a heated altercation or even a fight. This is a constant during summer months, trying to prevent someone accidentally starting a fire in a residential or forest area, from carelessness and criminal oversight.
Targeted arsons
It is always a "mystery", how multiple sources of fires suddenly pop-up in the same area, during the driest, hottest and windiest of days. Mystery. Many of you will say this is a conspiracy theory. Wrong. This theory is usually downplayed by the media and people that are not close to the fires. There have been countless eye witnesses testifying that they saw small explosions inside forests, as well the Fire Department's assessment that it is not possible for two sides of a forest spontaneously bursting to flames, creating a fire front many kilometres long. Citizen and fire department patrols and investigation units have encountered artisanal gas-bombs in forest and low vegetation areas, during routine patrols but also after they investigate the causation of a fire. In addition, police and fire department patrols, even citizens have arrested and chased suspects carrying these kinds of bombs, aiming to detonate them in areas with vegetation. Same story with this year's fired in Rhodes, Volos and Corfu. Nobody knows the real motives behind such an evil action, but still it is a threat that needs to be reckoned with.
Political neglect & apathy
Sensitive subject for any Greek. Our Fire Department is stretched thin beyond reckoning. Based on the available information online our Fire Department's force amount to around 14,000 firefighters, number which includes permanent, limited contract and volunteering firefighters. These people are always on the forefront of all these major events, risking their lives to protect nature, animals, people and homes. The most important weapon in our arsenal against fires is arguably air support. Although admittedly very difficult to find an accurate number of the Greek fleet, ranging from 20 to 80(!) actionable planes and helicopters, our fleet has proven to be antiquated with a lot of airplanes, mostly Canadairs, being indisposed due to mechanical issues and the rest of them badly maintained and too old to sustain prolonged use. Unfortunately, this fact lead to the death of two Canadair operators last week in Karistos - Evia, where due to a mechanical problem on the right wing, their airplane crashed in the forest. Having that in mind, the Greek government has persistently neglected the issue of sufficient funding for the Fire Department, even resorting to violently breaking a peaceful demonstration in 2021, where permanent and contractual fire department employees were demanding to be fairly compensated and funded. Instead, funding has been continuously been granted for the hiring of additional police force, police vehicles and fighter jets over the years, thus leaving unprotected our nature and people.
Foreign Press, you have a problem.
Greece headlines the majority of international media during summer, usually for two reasons: 1. Its islands, 2. Massive fires. I have to say that their coverage of the events sometimes bewilders me, but not necessarily surprises me. Foreign media, have the tendency to always gracefully bestow the responsibility of the fires to climate change, since it is the topic of the hour, without of course downplaying the fact that it remains the gravest threat to our planet and habitat. Having said that, it is important to understand that in some cases we should refuse to accept our fate as victims of climate change and dig deeper to find the root of this yearly issue, that causes such environmental, emotional, physical and financial suffering. During my research for this article, I was "relieved" to see that the Guardian mentioned that there are reports of intentional wrong doing that would explain the over 600 blazes that occurred in Greece in recent weeks. Accurate coverage, of the situation Greeks are faced every summer, from a political and social point of view is critical, to put pressure to the governing bodies to change their course and safeguard the safety of our nature, people and biodiversity.
领英推荐
The discouraging conclusion.
I was 6 years old when I saw fires ravaging half of the forest of the island I am from, Spetses. We were sleepless that night, providing shelter for families getting ready to go to the beach and board our boat and get to safety. The fires were 200 meters in a straight line from my home. Some years later, millions of hectares of virgin forest and villages in Peloponnese got eradicated costing human and animal lives. Finally, the destruction of the eastern suburbs of Athens, Rafina, Nea Makri and other areas, caused by a huge fire front, costing 100 human lives and countless animal deaths. I have volunteered to some of those events, and I have seen the destruction up close. Friends and family have gone through this countless times. And you know what? We are tired. Tired of being afraid. Tired of leaving our homes, and not knowing if someone is going to call us to come back because there is a fire nearby. I really believe that external pressure from foreign media, that highlights the real problems, will have a positive effect and help us as a nation to correct our distorted mentalities and attitudes. Lastly, for all friends, peers, followers and connections that wish to visit or have been visiting Greece, please be aware of the struggles of this country. Greece is not just an island destination, its hospitable people and crystal blue water and skies. Our flora, fauna, people's livelihoods are under threat every year from events like these. Support us by informing yourselves correctly and understanding the situation many of us have to face, promoting conscious travelling.
Article Sources
Efsyn (Greek):
Euronews:
https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/31/firefighters-contain-wildfires-on-greek-islands-but-risk-remains
France24:
Greek Fire Service:
The Guardian:
Proton (Greek):
Wikipedia:
Founder Scientias-Energy | Independent consultancy | Driving Grid Reliability | Asset & Wildlife protection | Innovation | Building global connections |
11 个月Hi Alexis, in some other hot and dry regions a large number of wildfires are caused by power utility infrastructure // lines clashing with dry vegetation adjacent to lines and electrocution of avian wildlife can also result in fires if the carcass infinites. If you are interested in discussing further // please reach out to// Brian [email protected]
Climate Change & Sustainability Services at EY
1 年Great article, thank you for sharing!
Sustainability Office at University of Vienna
1 年"Trying to address our fellow countrymen in a case like this, usually means you have to be constantly wired for at least a heated altercation or even a fight." - Regarding this sentence, I was wondering if this is a deliberate naming of only countrymen? Any thoughts on this?
Projekt- og forandringsledelse. Lagerledelse. Koordinator. Internationale og globale forhold. Forskning. Analyse. Cand.soc., MSc (Global Studies) - Fokus Gr?kenland / Greece / Ελλ?δα
1 年An excellent and balanced read. Great way to include your personal experiences and background.
Marketing & Communications Lead @ Tekmon | Sustainability, Social Entrepreneurship, Tech
1 年Thank you, Alexis, I agree with your point of view. I witnessed the fires in Volos and was devastated by the lack of preparation, organization and clear plan, as well as the lack of resources. It’s unimaginable that not even the army was prepared with the simplest act of digging fire zones around the air base. Even a simple project manager could have come up with a solid plan of action if he was given a budget and Human Resources in my opinion, but then again I might be mistaken.