According to a report by the FLAME meteorological team of the National Observatory of Athens and WWF Greece, the number of wildfires in Greece has surged by 42% compared to the average from 2006 to 2023 during the 2024 fire season.
The study highlights a new collaboration aimed at scientifically analyzing forest fires in Greece, emphasizing accountability and systemic processes to gather essential lessons after each fire season.
In 2024, over 419,000 acres were burned, with estimates nearing 450,000 acres when including smaller incidents not captured by the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). This year’s burned area is slightly below the national average of 504,927 acres recorded from 2004 to 2023.
Despite being the sixth-worst year in terms of burned area and number of fires since 2006, the 2024 season saw a 20% decrease in burned area compared to the average of the previous 18 years. However, the number of fires increased by 42%.
Of the burned land, more than 255,000 acres were forested, affecting over 90,000 acres in 11 protected areas. Notably, over 113,000 acres have burned multiple times in less than 20 years, significantly reducing the natural regeneration potential of these ecosystems.
The report indicates that 14 fires accounted for 72% of the total burned area this year, reflecting the challenges in managing large incidents, particularly under conditions that facilitate fire ignition and spread, such as prolonged drought.
The most affected region was Attica, with 117,610 acres burned, while the Peloponnese experienced its second-worst fire season since 2006, with 94,010 acres burned. Additionally, Central Macedonia reported record burned areas of 35,580 acres.
The three largest fires occurred in Northeast Attica, Mount Orvilos in Serres, and the Rosewood fire in Xylokastro, with significant fire meteorological conditions recorded, including the most severe drought in 34 years.
The report emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, improved accountability, and continuous evolution of Greece’s fire management system. Key recommendations include developing a fire ignition reduction strategy, enhancing investigation and documentation of fire causes, and increasing the readiness of firefighting mechanisms.