Very high fire risk on Friday

According to the Fire Risk Prediction Map issued by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection (www.civilprotection.gr), for tomorrow, Friday 28/06, the risk is assessed as High (Category 4) for the Regional Unit of Corfu.

The relevant state services involved, as well as the services of the Regional Unit of Corfu, are on heightened alert for civil protection, in order to promptly respond to any fire incidents.

By decision of the Deputy Regional Governor for Corfu, the measure of prohibition of passage, stay, and circulation of persons and vehicles is imposed in NATURA areas, as well as in forest ecosystems, parks, and groves on Friday 28/06, from 00:01 until 23:59 in the following areas:

(a) Municipality of South Corfu - Cedar Forest of Issos (Ammothines Korission), Forest of Agios Mattheos, Arkoudila, and Theofylaktos Area of the Local Community of Pavliana.

(b) Municipality of Central Corfu & Diapontia Islands - Mon Repos, Vidos, Lazareto Islet, Kompitsi, Agioi Deka, Stavros, and Agios Panteleimonas Area of the Local Community of Kato Garouna.

(c) Municipality of North Corfu - Porto Timoni.

(d) Erimitis, Panagia Islands, Agios Nikolaos, and Antipaxi Islands, Municipality of Paxos.

For each violation of the above prohibition, an administrative fine of 300 euros shall be imposed. The prohibition of passage, stay, and circulation of persons and vehicles does not apply to residents or workers in the areas where the above prohibition has been declared, exclusively for their travel to and from their residence or workplace, as well as persons moving within the road network, subject to the possibility of imposing the traffic restriction measure on sections of this network by the competent authorities, in accordance with the relevant provisions.

The competent authorities responsible for ensuring the implementation of the Prohibition Decision and the issuance of administrative fines are (a) the Corfu Police Directorate, (b) the Fire Service Administration of Corfu Prefecture, and (c) the Forestry Service of Corfu.

INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID INCIDENTS

To provide self-protection from fire risks, the following apply:

If you are outdoors

• Do not burn rubbish, dry grass, or branches during the summer months.
• Remove dry branches from trees and shrubs.
• Do not light outdoor grills in forests or areas with dry grass in the summer.
• Avoid activities that may cause a fire (e.g., welding, using a wheel or other tools that create sparks).
• Do not throw lit cigarettes.
• Do not leave rubbish in the forest. There is a risk of ignition.
• Respect access prohibitions during high-risk periods.
• Avoid beekeeping activities.

If your house is in or near a forest

• Create a firebreak around your house by clearing dry grass and leaves, pine needles, and branches within at least a 10-metre radius.
• Prune trees up to a height of 3 metres, depending on their age and condition.
• Remove dry branches from trees and shrubs.
• Do not allow tree branches to touch the walls, roof, and balconies of your house. Prune them, keeping at least a 5-metre distance from the house.
• Thin tree vegetation so that the branches of one tree are at least 3 metres apart from the branches of another. For even greater protection, remove tree and shrub vegetation around the building within a distance of at least 10 metres, provided that the cleaning work of natural vegetation required for the protection of buildings does not in any case conflict with the provisions of forestry legislation.

• Do not use flammable materials for shutters on windows and balcony doors.
• Ensure that the covers on chimneys and house vents are made of non-flammable material to prevent sparks from entering.
• Do not store flammable items near the house.
• Store firewood in closed and protected spaces.
• Do not build uncovered fuel tanks near the house.
• Acquire appropriate fire extinguishers and ensure their maintenance.
• Equip yourself with a garden hose long enough to cover the area you want to protect.
• Have a water tank, a simple pump that operates without electricity, and a water hose.

As Soon as You Notice a Fire

Call the Fire Service IMMEDIATELY (tel. 199) or 112 and provide clear information about:

• Your location and the exact spot you are at,
• The location, the exact spot, and the direction of the fire,
• The type of vegetation that is burning.

For more information and self-protection instructions against forest fire risks, members of the public can visit the General Secretariat for Civil Protection website at www.civilprotection.gr.

Additionally, we inform you that within the framework of the "Laertes - Innovative Operational System for Natural Risk Management in the Ionian Islands Region" project, the information system "hazardspro.eu" is available. This is an integrated crisis management tool for Civil Protection (https://hazardspro.eu/).

The system can also be used as a tool to present important information to members of the public for their awareness and guidance before, during, and after natural disasters. The information is structured according to three significant categories of natural disasters: fires, floods, and landslides.

Information dissemination is tiered for Civil Protection agencies and the public and is carried out either through a dynamic GIS information map or using files and links. Access to the information system is also available via a mobile app ("Laertes" app).

Nikolaos Papanikolaou

Civil Protection Service Supervisor

Archive photo