Fire risk higher this summer
The threat of forest fires is higher than usual this summer due to low levels of rainfall and snowfall with high-altitude areas facing the greatest risk, government officials said yesterday. Forest fires are more likely to break out on mountains that are above an altitude of 800 meters – a difficult stretch for firefighters to reach on foot. These areas have dried up the most because of the lack of moisture this year. «Based on what we can see so far, we are in for an exceptionally difficult summer due to the extensive dry period and the reduced snowfall in mountainous regions,» said Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos. The minister also said that the EU will send over staff to help Greek firefighters this summer.
