Greece: More than 300 arrested over forest fires since the start of the year; 36 cases suspected to be deliberate

More than 300 people have been arrested in Greece since the beginning of the year on suspicion of causing forest fires. The figure includes cases linked both to deliberate arson and negligence.

Giorgos Artopoios, a spokesperson for the Greek fire service, said that 272 cases were suspected to have resulted from negligence, while another 36 were believed to have been caused deliberately.

One of the most recent incidents occurred on the island of Crete, where a fire near a forested area is suspected to have started after a tourist lit a charcoal grill near the forest. He told the authorities that he did not know that lighting fires in open areas was prohibited during periods of strong winds and dry weather.

Greek authorities have warned that the risk of fires is expected to increase because of drought, strong winds and extreme temperatures. In most parts of the country, temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days, while the heatwave is forecast to continue until the middle of next week. These weather conditions are creating an environment conducive to the rapid spread of flames and have increased the readiness of emergency services.

At the same time, Greece is taking measures to protect historic monuments from the effects of fires. To prevent damage in areas of cultural significance, the authorities have begun installing a modern monitoring and alarm system designed to detect fire outbreaks at an early stage. The equipment has been successfully tested near the Acropolis of Mycenae, on the Peloponnese peninsula, and is planned for installation at 22 historic sites across the country.

The system consists of optical and thermal cameras, some of which provide 360-degree panoramic coverage. The equipment can monitor large areas and detect the first signs of a fire. Six new systems are expected to become operational by the end of August, while another eight are scheduled to be installed during September.