Greece Fire Service personnel increase to 18,500

Greece's Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Evangelos Tournas, announced a significant increase in the Hellenic Fire Service's workforce. Since 2022, personnel numbers have grown by over 42%, rising from 13,000 to approximately 18,500, with nearly 16,000 of those being permanent staff.

In response to parliamentary inquiries regarding staffing in Sitia, Tournas explained that operational planning is based on strategic studies considering geography, fire risk maps, and forest ecosystems rather than isolated political decisions. The expansion includes increasing annual academy admissions from 170 to 330 and hiring specialized professionals such as doctors, pilots, and engineers.

Additional measures include the creation of 21 Forest Operation Units across the country and the recruitment of 1,500 seasonal firefighters. The minister also highlighted investments in modernization through the ‘AEGIS’ program, which utilizes technological systems like ENGAGE and the 112 emergency service to improve coordination during natural disasters.