By April 30, plots of land and other uncovered areas must be cleared by their owners in accordance with Fire Decree No. 20/2023, published in the Official Gazette on April 19, 2023 and signed by the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas.

At the same time, in the provision entitled «Determination of preventive fire protection measures for building land and other uncovered areas located in areas within approved urban plans, within the boundaries of settlements without an approved urban plan, in areas located within a radius of 100 m. from the boundaries of the above areas, as well as on land with a building outside the approved urban development plan», it is pointed out that the owners of the above areas should maintain them throughout the fire season, i.e. from 1 May to 31 October, in order to prevent the risk of fire or its rapid spreading.

In particular, issues relating to the determination of preventive fire protection measures for building land and other uncovered areas located in areas within approved urban plans, within the boundaries of settlements without an approved urban plan in order to prevent the risk of fire or its rapid expansion. This obligation, according to the new provision, is extended to land located within a 100 m radius of the boundaries of the above-mentioned areas, as well as to land with a building outside the fire plan.

«Cleaning» is defined in detail as the removal of broken trees and branches, dead grass, leaves, etc., as well as branches in direct contact with a building. In addition, clearing also includes the removal of combustible plant material on the ground surface such as, but not limited to, leaf litter, dead grass and overlying dead branches. In addition, it shall include, inter alia, the removal of any other abandoned combustible, flammable or explosive materials or objects, as well as combustible waste, and the collection and removal of all clean-up debris.

At the same time, according to the provision, the municipalities, should ensure the fulfillment of the obligation of owners, tenants, tenants and subtenants, to carry out cleaning of the above areas, from 1 to 30 April and the maintenance of these areas throughout the fire season, from 1 May to 31 October, to prevent fire risk or rapid expansion of fire.

In particular, as the provision provides, it is the obligation of municipalities to inform those responsible for cleaning by 31 March each year. Only this year, the municipalities will inform the obligated parties by 28 April. It is also the obligation of municipalities to carry out regular or emergency inspections (upon complaint or ex officio) throughout the fire season, as well as the procedure of ex officio cleaning in case of non-compliance with the cleaning obligations by the obligated parties.

In case an owner is informed by the municipality concerned to carry out initial cleaning actions, he/she can inform the municipality to carry out the initial cleaning and maintenance throughout the fire season, by any appropriate means.

If the owners do not carry out the cleaning and maintenance of the above areas, the municipality imposes penalties and, in particular, a fine of 0.50 euros per square meter, with a minimum of 200 euros, plus the cost of cleaning the area and removal of materials.

However, under the new provision if the owners carry out the cleaning within the 10-day period, from the service, posting or notification of the fine, then the municipality concerned shall issue a decision to reduce up to 50% of the fine.

If the premises are abandoned, or of unknown owners, fenced and insured, the municipality calls the Fire Department to ascertain the fire risk and conduct an autopsy and then «is obliged to clean the premises on its own initiative to remove the risk».

It is noted that for the burning of plant matter as a cleaning product, until 30 April 2023, those interested should contact the local Fire Services to be informed about the weather conditions that will prevail, the mandatory prevention measures and any other additional information.

Furthermore, it is stressed that there is already a ban on any use of fire from 20-04-2023 following a decision by the Operations Coordinator of the North, South Aegean and Crete regions: