Greece power grid linked to majority of wildfire damage

Preliminary data from the Greek fire service suggests that the country's power grid is responsible for approximately three-quarters of the total area burned by wildfires this year. According to reports from the newspaper Kathimerini, sparks caused by material damage, wear, or technical faults in the aging infrastructure have been linked to major blazes, including those on Crete in late July and west of Athens in early August.

The Greek power grid spans roughly 250,000 kilometers, the majority of which consists of overhead lines. Technicians have criticized the partially privatized grid operator, Deddie, noting that maintenance of the aging network is often outsourced to private companies. The complexity of maintaining the system is compounded by the fact that it was built over decades using various materials, manufacturers, and technical standards.

While moving the grid underground could mitigate fire risks, experts suggest this is economically unfeasible, as costs can be up to five times higher than maintaining overhead connections.