Very high fire risk tomorrow for Kythera and five regions

Very high risk fire (risk category 4) is predicted tomorrow, Tuesday, July 5, for five regions of the country, according to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Change & Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gr).

Specifically a very high fire risk is forecast for the following regions:

- Region of Attica (including the island of Kythera)

- North Aegean Region (PE Lesvos, PE Chios, PE Samos, PE Ikaria)

- Region of Central Greece (PE Boeotia, PE Evia)

- Region of Peloponnese (Corinth, Argolida, Laconia)

- Region of Western Greece (PE Ilia, PE Achaia)

For this reason, the DG Civil Protection recommends that citizens should be particularly careful and avoid actions in the open air that can cause a fire by negligence, such as burning dry grass and branches or cleaning debris, using sparking machines such as circular saws, welding devices, using outdoor barbecues, smoking bees, throwing lit cigarettes, etc. Also, the GGP reminds that during the fire season, burning of fields is prohibited and calls on citizens, in case they notice a fire, to immediately notify the Fire Service at the call number 199.

At the same time, according to a statement of the Fire Corps, the 2nd stage of operational readiness of the Fire Department remains in place and aerial surveillance patrols will continue, as well as patrols by fire, police and military forces.

In addition, the personnel of the Fire Services of the above Regional Units remain on partial alert, in order to cope with the increased service requirements that may arise due to the very high fire risk (risk category 4).

At the same time, for the above areas, the Civil Protection Action Plan for dealing with forest fire risks remains in force, according to which, among other things, the implementation of the measure of preventive prohibition of vehicle traffic and stay of excursionists in national parks, forests and «vulnerable» areas is foreseen.

At the same time, the GGP in direct cooperation with the Fire Brigade have informed all the relevant government departments involved, as well as the regions and municipalities of the country, in order to be in increased readiness to take measures under their responsibility.

For its part, the Fire Brigade appeals to citizens:

-Be especially careful and avoid any activity that could cause a fire.

-To monitor the information on forest fire prevention available on the website and the official accounts of the Fire Brigade, Facebook and Twitter.

-If they notice a fire, they should immediately notify the Fire Service at the call number 199.

Finally, it calls on all citizens to be particularly careful and, in the event of a fire, for their own safety, to follow the instructions of the competent authorities.

For more information and instructions on how to protect themselves from the risks of forest fires, citizens can visit the website of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection at www.civilprotection.gr.