The government’s assessment of the fire in Penteli – Mitsotakis is expected to visit North Attica

By Dimitris Gatsiou

A few minutes after seven yesterday evening, the prime minister arrived, for the second time in twelve hours, at the Crisis Management Center of the Ministry of Citizen Protection, on Kifissias Avenue, in order to be informed about the latest developments on the fire fronts throughout the territory. It was preceded by the… great battle of the forces of the firefighters, the Greek Police, the Armed Forces and the Forestry Services in the fire of Penteli, while the extinguishing was in progress in the areas of Megara and Salamina. Where the attention of the state apparatus was mainly focused, after the prevailing optimism about the progress of the fire in Eastern Attica. In Megaros Maximos, although there is no room for triumphalism in any case, there was satisfaction for the mobilization of all involved bodies in a fire with very difficult characteristics, which started in Penteli, but very quickly and with great speed entered the urban fabric. And this was also reflected in the statements of Mr. Mitsotakis.

“I believe that all the authorities did their best with a very quick and timely presence, with a great mobilization of the state apparatus and above all with a much better coordination compared to what we had seen in the past. With this logic we will proceed from here and from now on”, noted the Prime Minister, who this morning and if the conditions prevailing on the other fronts allow, it is expected that he will visit the areas of Eastern Attica, which were affected by the fire, in order to talk with residents and have himself accurate picture of the situation. Government officials, at the same time, stand, primarily, on two critical points. The first is related to the organized evacuation of an area in which almost 100,000 of our fellow citizens live. “The first priority, according to our standing principle, was and remains the safeguarding of human life, but also the protection of critical public infrastructures of vital importance, as well as the property of citizens. Particular emphasis was placed on the preventive removal of citizens from areas and structures facing possible danger. Difficult but well-organized operations were developed for this purpose, as on the one hand it is necessary to ensure safe escape routes, in the right directions, in order to avoid fatal mistakes of the past and on the other hand because in many cases there is a reluctance to evacuate the residents. In this effort particularly important it was the function of “112”, through which the citizens of specific areas were informed both of the need to evacuate and of the area to which they should move”, they note characteristically. The second point is related to the mobilization of the firefighting forces, which, as they say, was carried out immediately and in a coordinated manner. In the case of the fire in Penteli, according to the data:

– On Tuesday afternoon, 350 firefighters with 13 groups of infantry departments and 60 vehicles rushed to the firefighting battle, while 15 aircraft and nine helicopters operated periodically, including one for aerial coordination.

-Their effort was supported by volunteers of the Fire Brigade, volunteer groups of the Civil Protection and the Region of Attica, as well as a large force of the Hellenic Police with 58 vehicles and 150 police officers for the organized preventive removal of citizens, the facilitation of safe movement and the safeguarding of their property .

– The forces were strengthened even more during the night and yesterday morning 485 firefighters were operating, with 28 groups of pedestrian units and 120 vehicles, while the Fire Brigade has also deployed drones to monitor the fire. They simultaneously operated nine aircraft and ten helicopters, one of which was for aerial coordination.

“What I can say with certainty and having now gained relevant experience, having also managed last year’s fires, is that there is a much better level of organization and coordination than what happened in the past. I think that all the authorities are one team. We understand that this is a team mission that we will all have to work on together. The fact that we are all here now, in a state-of-the-art operations center, all in the same place, is something that we have been very adamant about with the competent minister, having an image, having information. This is the essence of coordination, which is so necessary in these extreme situations,” Mr. Mitsotakis pointed out.

The possibility of arson is being investigated. Message of support to citizens

Leaving the Crisis Management Center, late yesterday afternoon, the Prime Minister left open the possibility that the fire fronts in Penteli were due to arson. “At the moment, we cannot rule out anything. We will be able to have more when the Fire Brigade’s Investigator completes his work. Certainly for Penteli, the case of arson is not ruled out either”, was his characteristic disgust. Attention is now turning to supporting those affected. “I want to assure all our fellow citizens, who have been affected, that the state will be on their side with great speed and with great efficiency. I do not hide from you that yesterday’s image of the fire in the evening made us more pessimistic about the extent of the It seems that the damages are limited and of course the state apparatus will move with great speed to rehabilitate our fellow citizens, those who lost their homes or those who suffered damages”, noted Mr. Mitsotakis, with the recording of the damage to be done, as executives say, with great speed.