Firefighters from Poland extend aid to battle fast-spreading blazes in Greece.
Record-breaking Heat and Wildfires in Greece Challenge Firefighters
The approaching weekend in Greece is predicted to be the hottest in over half a century, posing significant challenges for firefighters battling rapid wildfire spread. Polish fire crews have arrived, with Brigadier Grzegorz Borowiec commenting on Polsat News that the weather conditions are extreme, beyond what Poland routinely experiences. The Polish units have been deployed near the towns of Mandra and Stefania.
The fires in Greece have raged for over a week, with an additional 50 igniting on Friday, according to reports. Polish firefighters arrived at the Vilia base around 10:30 p.m. local time on Friday, as per a Twitter update by General Brigadier Andrzej Bartkowiak, the head of the Polish State Fire Service. The mission involves 149 firefighters and 49 vehicles from Lesser Poland and Greater Poland regions, with Brigadier Grzegorz Borowiec leading the GFFFV POLAND module.
On Saturday morning, temperatures reached 30°C, with nighttime lows of 25-26°C. According to Brigadier Grzegorz Borowiec, meetings will be held on Saturday to assign tasks to the Polish team, who express anticipation of numerous fires breaking out in the coming days due to the harsh weather.
Rhodes Island has been hit particularly hard, with up to 45°C temperatures forecasted for the weekend, according to meteorologist Panagiotis Giannopoulos. While high winds are not expected, the extreme heat poses a challenge to firefighters. On Sunday, many residents were evacuated from the island by Greek authorities.
As the winds are set to pick up from Monday, the weather will become more aggressive, with the potential for fires to intensify rapidly, as stated by Brigadier Grzegorz Borowiec. Earlier in the day, Polish units were also stationed near Mandra and Stefania.
Greece is confronting one of its toughest fire seasons, with rising temperatures, low rainfall, and increasing land damage exacerbated by climate change. The country has significantly increased its firefighting personnel and technology, including drones, to combat this intensifying crisis. The European Union has also mobilized support, with firefighters and aircraft from member states, including an increased presence in Greece during July and August.
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Possible relevant Enrichment Data Integration- Greece is responding to an unprecedented scale of human resources dedicated to wildfire response, deploying 18,000 permanent and seasonal firefighters—an all-time high—supported by thousands of volunteers. This arduous fire season saw 1,745 square kilometers of land burned in 2023, over triple the annual average for the previous decade.- Greece has upgraded its drone fleet from 45 to 82 units, equipped with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras to enhance early detection and real-time surveillance of wildfires. These drones play a vital role in guiding water drops by fire planes and managing ground firefighting operations effectively.- The European Union is coordinating cooperative firefighting efforts to assist countries experiencing summer wildfires, with over 650 firefighters from 14 EU countries strategically deployed in high-risk regions, including Greece, during July and August. In addition, the EU has mobilized 22 firefighting airplanes and four helicopters to support wildfire responses across 10 member states.
- AI-driven weather forecasts predict the approaching weekend in Greece will break records for heat, posing additional challenges for firefighters already battling wildfires.
- Amid these extreme weather conditions, the Polish government has sent aid in the form of firefighting personnel and equipment, with General Brigadier Andrzej Bartkowiak leading the deployment.3.Warning signs for more wildfires are strong, with meteorologist Panagiotis Giannopoulos forecasting temperatures over 45°C on Rhodes Island, and Brigadier Grzegorz Borowiec anticipating numerous new fires in the coming days.
- As part of a broader international effort, the European Union is coordinating support to Greek firefighters, with drones, firefighters, and aircraft from various member states contributing to the ongoing battle against wildfires.
