Minister of National Defence Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos Announces Government Decisions on Further Armed Forces Contribution to the Wildfire Response EffortsThe Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, after the meeting held on Thursday 5 August 2021 at the Maximos Mansion under the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, concerning the Armed Forces further active contribution regarding fire prevention and management, addressed the Press. The Chief HNDGS General Konstantinos Floros presented more detailed information regarding operational planning, as well as information on Armed Forces Personnel and Asset provision.
The Minister of National Defence stated the following:
“Given the critical situation regarding fires, in the next days and after the morning meeting attended by the Political and Military Leadership of the Ministry of National Defence at the Maximos Mansion, under the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis and following his orders, a decision was made for the active involvement of the Armed Forces in the area of fire prevention and management.
Special emphasis is given in the area of surveillance of high risk areas throughout the State, by air, with all available flying means and on the ground with intensive and continuous patrols of Armed Forces detachments, always in communication and coordination with the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the Hellenic Police.
The Armed Forces are always there in hard times. So, once again, they contribute in the overall effort of the state apparatus, which has been activated for the hard struggle that lies ahead of us”.
The Chief HNDGS stated the following:
“The Armed Forces, as a precaution and due to the dangerous weather forecast, have already deployed the surveillance and intervention mechanism required and provided for by “XENOKRATIS” Plan.
Since the beginning of the fire fighting period, they closely cooperate with the competent authorities of the state apparatus, in terms of personnel, land and air assets, for the prevention, management and extinguishing of fires, throughout the Hellenic State.
In the National Operations Center, on a 24/7 basis, all requests by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection are received and met.
In a sense of responsibility, from the first moment, the Armed Forces offer aid to the state apparatus in emergency situations, especially during this very hard time with fires all over the state.
Specifically, in the past three days, the following have been provided to the General Secretariat for Civil Protection: approximately 500 personnel, 63 utility vehicles, 4 Engineer tracked vehicles, as well as 39 Aircraft and Helicopters for aerial firefighting and surveillance of the disaster areas, as well as high fire risk areas.
Specifically, the following have been provided:
100 personnel of the specialized DEFKALION forces to the fires of Limni, Evia, and Varibobi.
4 Engineer tracked vehicles in Varibobi.
45 mounted patrols for early detection of any rekindling in Attica, on a 24/7 basis.
9 mounted patrols with Armed Forces and Hellenic Police personnel, to provide assistance to the civilian Authorities for civilian evacuation in the area of Ancient Olympia, Prefecture of Ilia.
Approximately 50 personnel to help extinguish the fire in the area of Ancient Olympia.
Coordination Centers led by Armed Forces Officers, in order to provide assistance to the Fire Service and the Police authorities, to control and coordinate the foot and mounted forces in the disaster areas.
Readiness to provide assistance to people affected by the fires.
Air surveillance flights with Armed Forces manned and unmanned aerial vehicles.
This contribution of the Armed Forces is further reinforced from this day and during all August by doubling the fire safety patrols and fire guard outposts, involving more than 300 personnel, in all disaster areas, as well as high risk areas for fire prevention.
Air surveillance is further intensified throughout the state, using manned and unmanned aerial vehicles, covering the whole state every day.
In addition to the provisions of the “XENOKRATIS” Plan, 50 personnel on alert per Formation, with suitable assets and materials, in order to be deployed wherever and whenever required.
Provision of Engineer machinery to the competent local authorities, if required.
Provision of suitable Navy Units to reinforce the Port Police Corps in case of emergency evacuation.
So, the Hellenic Armed Forces are deployed throughout the State, ready to provide assistance to the suffering local communities, and they are there in all big disasters so far, in order to provide relief to the citizens, in cooperation with the Hellenic Police, the Fire Service, and the Hellenic Coast Guard-Port Police Corps.
I wish our involvement in anything else beyond prevention will not be required, but we are a 100% ready to do so with personnel and assets.
May none of these be necessary!
Thank you”.
