Fire departments in Greece have received 164 new emergency vehicles. But despite 24 new fire engines, equipment and personnel in Crete are outdated.
Every year, wildfires threaten Greece’s forests and homes. To tackle this ongoing risk, Greece just added 164 new vehicles to its firefighting resources.
The new vehicles range from heavy all-terrain water tankers—these can hold up to 12,000 litres—to trucks for transporting crews and equipment. At the official handover, the Prime Minister and other leaders showed up, underlining the government’s focus on wildfire response.
Key Takeaways
- Greece’s firefighting fleet just got a big upgrade with specialised new vehicles.
- The aim: better protection for forests and people against wildfires.
- Government officials keep calling for more investment in fire prevention and readiness.
Greece Increasing Resources and Upgrading Firefighting Fleet to Face Wildfire Risks
This year, Greece’s making its biggest push yet to fight wildfires. The civil protection system now includes 18,000 firefighters, over 1,500 forest commandos, 85 aircraft, and more than 80 drones.
The ground fleet’s grown, too—roughly 4,000 firefighting vehicles now, including those 164 new arrivals.
This is all part of the AIGIS programme, a national plan to improve disaster readiness. The plan will eventually add 1,400 new vehicles, with 296 more on the way soon and another 331 due in 2026.
Modern equipment really matters during Greece’s long, hot fire season. Prevention is a huge focus, too.
Authorities have spent over €400 million clearing forests and making firebreaks to slow down blazes before they get out of control. Firefighters say that the real work often happens in winter when it’s safer to prepare.
All these moves help the fire service react faster and hopefully keep damage down. For more about the new fleet, check out reports on new firefighting vehicles.
Wildfires in Greece: Trends from 2023 to 2025
From 2023 through 2025, wildfires hit Greece hard—climate change didn’t help, with long droughts, heatwaves, and those relentless seasonal winds. The result: widespread damage to forests, farmland, and plenty of communities.
Key points include:
- 2023 was one of the worst wildfire seasons Greece has seen.
- The Evros region suffered most, losing over 93,000 hectares of land.
- This fire was the biggest ever recorded in the EU, devastating local ecosystems and wildlife.
- Tragically, at least 20 people died, and thousands had to evacuate.
Events of 2024
Wildfires didn’t let up in 2024, though the destruction was a bit less than in previous years. Big fires broke out in places like Attica, Euboea, Rhodes, and the Peloponnese, burning through forests and even protected reserves.
Satellite images really showed off just how much land burned—thousands of square metres of forest gone. Early warning systems and better emergency responses helped lower casualties, but the environment still took a hit.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), by mid-August 2024, fires had burned about 10,630 hectares in East Attica alone. The area northeast of Athens lost around 40 square miles (over 103,000 acres).
Across Greece, wildfires affected close to 40,470 hectares that year. In response, the government put more money into fire prevention, started new reforestation projects, and increased aerial firefighting support.
Experts keep warning that repeated wildfires are a long-term environmental crisis. Forests that burn might never fully recover, or at least not for decades.
Other European countries are dealing with similar fire risks, so there’s a bigger push for cooperation on prevention and firefighting tech across the continent.
Key figures for 2024 wildfires in Greece:
Region |
Burned Area (hectares) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
East Attica |
10,630 |
Severe fires northeast of Athens |
Overall Greece |
40,470 approx. |
Multiple key regions affected |
Fire protection also strengthened in Crete: 24 new fire engines through the ‘ΑΙΓΙΣ’ programme
Crete’s fire service just got a real upgrade—24 new vehicles, thanks to the «AIGIS» programme from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection. The Recovery Fund and European Investment Bank paid for it, aiming to modernise firefighting fleets across Crete.
Here’s what they received:
Vehicle Type |
Quantity |
Capacity/Specification |
|---|---|---|
Off-road water tankers |
2 |
12,000 litres |
Standard water tankers |
2 |
1,000 litres |
Personnel transport vehicles |
8 |
– |
Equipment transport vehicles |
2 |
– |
Fuel tanker vehicle |
1 |
Liquid fuel transport |
4×4 vehicles for difficult terrain |
9 |
– |
This mix of vehicles gives local firefighters more flexibility and speed in emergencies. The 4x4s and off-road trucks especially help with Crete’s tough terrain.
The new additions are just a slice of a much bigger national upgrade—over 1,400 new vehicles are coming to Greece’s fire services by 2026. Multiple European and national funds are backing this plan, all to boost disaster response.
Giannis Kefalogiannis, the Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, called the new vehicles an investment in safety, not just equipment. He praised local firefighters for their daily dedication and said the state’s job is to support them with reliable gear.
Teamwork between government, local authorities, and communities really matters for safety. These 24 vehicles are a direct step toward a more fire-ready Crete. More info on civil protection upgrades in Crete is available.
Ageing fire brigades in terms of personnel and vehicles in Crete
Firefighting teams on Crete are still small, even as fire season hits its peak. They’re working with vehicles that have seen better days.
The average firefighter is nearly 48 years old. Quite a few are over 65, which makes quick and effective fire response harder than it should be.
The weather isn’t helping, either. Meteorologists are talking about winds that could hit 100 km/h.
Those kinds of gusts can turn a small fire into a real disaster in no time. Forests, farms, and whole communities are at risk if something sparks.
Crete’s fire services are stretched thin. There just aren’t enough people to cover every emergency the way they’d like.
Old equipment doesn’t do them any favors, and when resources run short, fires can get out of hand before help arrives. It’s a tough spot, honestly.
They really need more people to put their fire safety plans into action. In Heraklion alone, the fire department says they’re short by about 50 staff.
Nationwide, there are roughly 3,000 firefighter jobs still unfilled. So, it’s not just a local headache.
The age of their crew is another big issue. Some firefighters are still suiting up at 67 or even 70. That’s pretty remarkable, but it does make planning and response a lot trickier.
Another major problem is the vehicle fleet and the age of the vehicles. The fire engines in the prefecture of Heraklion are more than 25 years old, and in some cases even 30 years old.
Issue |
Impact |
Needed Action |
|---|---|---|
Staff shortages |
Slower response, stretched resources |
Recruit 50 more in Heraklion |
High average age of staff |
Limited physical ability, planning issues |
Update workforce, retire older firefighters |
Old firefighting vehicles |
Reduced efficiency |
Replace and upgrade equipment |
Strong winds |
Faster fire spread |
Increase vigilance and readiness |
Authorities are asking everyone to be extra careful. Don’t toss cigarette butts or use open flames where you shouldn’t.
If you spot smoke or flames, call emergency numbers 199 or 112 right away. Better safe than sorry.
The head of Heraklion’s firefighters isn’t sugarcoating it. He’s been clear about the aging team and the struggle to stay ready with so few resources.
His words really drive home how much help Crete needs right now to keep everyone safe.
For more on what’s happening and the latest firefighting challenges, check out the update on the very high fire risk and staff shortages.
