GREECE WILDFIRES - USAID/OFDA SITUATION REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ATHENS 002019

SIPDIS

AIDAC
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS TO USAID/W, USAID/W FOR A/AID HFORE
DCHA/AA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, RANDREW,
MMICHAUD
STATE FOR EUR/EX, EUR/SE, EUR/ACE
AGRICULTURE FOR MREY, GKIMBALL
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA
USUN FOR TMALEY
NSC FOR PMARCHAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR SENV XG ZL GR

SUBJECT: GREECE WILDFIRES - USAID/OFDA SITUATION REPORT
AND ASSESSMENT TEAM REPORT

REFS: A) ATHENS 1687 B) ATHENS 1700 C) ATHENS 1707

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Summary
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1. According to Greek firefighting authorities, the
2007 wildfire season in Greece was the worst on record,
killing 76 people, injuring numerous others, and burning
270,000 hectares of land. In response to a request from
the Government of Greece (GOG),the U.S. Agency for
International DevelopmentQs Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) provided more than USD
1.9 million in humanitarian assistance, including the
procurement and transportation of emergency relief
supplies and the deployment of a six-person technical
assessment team from USAID/OFDA and the U.S. Department
of AgricultureQs U.S. Forest Service (USFS). From
September 1 to 7, the team visited fire-affected areas
and met with GOG officials to develop a longer-term
program for supporting the GOGQs fire stabilization,
rehabilitation, preparedness, and planning activities.

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Overview of 2007 Greek Wildfires
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2. Wildfires are an annual occurrence in Greece, with
significant blazes occurring in 1997 and 2000. (Note:
As in the western U.S., the Greek wugust 23 more than 130 fires broke out in the Peloponnese
alone, including 82 blazes between August 23 and 25.

Hellenic Fire Brigade authorities have noted that the
wildfires have been getting progressively worse in the
past decade. Historically, fires occurred in southern
regions of Greece. Recently, however, destructive fires
have also started breaking out in northern regions.


3. In June and July, wildfires ravaged more than 30,000
hectares of wild land in GreeceQs north, on the Island
of Crete, and around Athens, including on Mount Parnitha
and Mount Pendeli. These blazes reportedly killed ten
people, including two Greek firefighters and two
Hellenic Air Force pilots flying firefighting aircraft,
three part-time firefighters in Crete, and three
civilians in Egio Prefecture (REFTEL). The fires also
damaged private property.


4. In late August, fires in the Peloponnese and Evia
regions killed an additional 66 people and burned across
more than 240,000 hectares of land. Estimates of the
number of homes and buildings destroyed by the fires
range from 1,700 to approximately 4,000. Thousands of
livestock also perished in the flames. In many areas of
the Peloponnese and Evia, damage from the blazes
suggested that the fire spread rapidly across the dry
terrain, incinerating otherwise fire-resistant trees
with super hot flames and overwhelming the response

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capacity of Hellenic Fire Brigade.


5. Government of Greece authorities noted that the
Hellenic Fire Brigade fought the fires with 7,130
firefighters, 930 vehicles, and dozens of aircraft
(including foreign provided aircraft) as well as with
3,000 Greek Military personnel, more than 200
volunteers, and support from 20 European Union states
and neighboring countries.


6. The causes of the fires vary, and most blazes are
still under investigation. According to GOG
aupread damage, the GOG declared a
state of emergency late in the day on August 25. In
addition to devastating vast areas of Greece, the fires
caused an estimated USD 1.6 billion in economic damage,
according to Greek finance officials. The fires also
have political ramifications for the forthcoming
parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 16.

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USG response
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8. On August 27, Embassy Charge dQAffaires, a.i. Thomas
Countryman declared a disaster due to the magnitude of
the wildfires in Greece and the damage caused to loss of
life, property, and livelihoods. In response,
USAID/OFDA immediately provided USD 100,000 through the
U.S. Embassy in Athens to the Hellenic Red Cross for the
local purchase and distribution of emergency relief
commodities for fire-affected households. USAID/OFDA
also provided the Hellenic Fire Brigade with emergency
fire-fighting equipment, including 3,000 complete Nomex
fire suits. On September 5 and 6, USAID/OFDA
transported to Greece additional emergency relief
commodities, including 300 tents, 3,000 sleeping bags,
and 10,000 blankets, which were given to the Hellenic
Rd Cross. The total value of the firefighting
equipment and emergency relief commodities is USD
610,000.


9. At the request of the Government of Greece, and in
cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Athens, USAID/OFDA
deployed a six-person interagency technical team on
August 2 to assess the impact of the wildfires, evaluate
potential hazards created by newly burned terrain, and
provide technical assistance to the GOG in responding to
the current emergency and addressing long-term wildfire
management issues (see para 12).


10. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2007, USAID/OFDA is providing
more than USD 1.9 million in emergency and technical
assistance to Greece to reduce the suffering of fire-
affected households and mitigate the longer-term
economic impact of the fires on Greece.


11. On August 29, Acting Director of U.S. Foreign
Assistance and Acting USAID Administrator, Under

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12. From September 2 to 8, a six-person interagency
technical team traveled to Greece to meet with fire
response officials and assess the human and
environmental impact of the recent wildfires. Led by
USFS Director of Fire and Aviation Management Thomas C.
Harbour and USFS Assistant Director of International
Programs Stephanie Fritz Savolaine, the team included
experts in a range of disciplines, including fire
management, burned area emergency stabilization and
rehabilitation, and ecosystem and watershed restoration.


13. The team spent four days visiting burn sites in the
Evia, Attica, and Peloponnese regions accompanied by
officials from the U.S. Embassy in Athens, the Hellenic
Fire Brigade, and the GOG Foreign Ministry. On the
island of Evia, the team viewed fire clean-up and
emergency stabilization operations in areas impacted by
severe wildfires in early and late August. On Mount
Parnitha on the outskirts of Athens, the team observed
where the Hellenic Fire Brigade successfully repelled
fast moving flames threatening residential communities
at the base of the mountain. Around the Peloponnese,
the team visited the sites of some of the largest and
most deadly 2007 fires, including two burns in Ileia
Prefecture. In addition, the team observed the
devastation caused by fires in Arkadia and Lakonia
prefectures.


14. Following the field visits, the team met with GOG
officials, including the Public Order Minister, the
Director of the Hellenic Department of Forestry, and the
Secretary General of the Ministry for Public Order. The

SIPDIS
purpose of the meetings was to encourage additional
fire-fighting cooperation and coordination between the
GOG and the USG.


15. To better understand how the GOG manages national
and regional fire responses, the team visited the
national centralized operations center and met with the
Hellenic Fire Brigade's Senior Fire Chief, who extended
his appreciation for U.S. assistance and welcomed the
opportunity for further collaboration.

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Analysis and Recommendations
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Overview Q Increasing Fire Risk:


16. Climate: As in many other countries worldwide,
wildfire risk and vulnerability are increasing in
Greece. Climate change and environmental change play a
role in this increased risk. Following an extremely dry
winter, Greece experienced three heat waves in June with

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daytime temperatures reaching more than 40 degrees
centigrade. The Hellenic Fire Brigade recorded over 200
fire starts per day between June 25 and August 31.
Regional weather patterns caused unusual strong
northeasterly winds in August that spread the later
fires quickly through parched forest and agricultural
areas. The largest fire in Peloponnese burned
approximately 44,000 hectares, more than twice the size
of the largest fire in GreeceQs previous recorded
history.


17. Economic and Social Patterns: Economic and social
shifts in Greece also contribute to vulnerability.
Since the 1970s, the demographics of Greece have shifted
dramatically as populations have moved away from
traditional villages to the urban centers of Athens and
Thessaloniki, extending areas of habitation outward into
surrounding hills. Older people who remain in villages
are not able to maintain traditional gardens that
previously provided a natural perimeter, or fire break,
between towns and forested areas. As these former
village gardens are seeded by trees and shrubby species,
fuels creep closer to homes and significantly increase
the likelihood that wildland fires will spark structural
fires. The lack of a natural perimeter also leaves
populations without a Qsafe havenQ when large or fast-
moving fires approach their villages.


18. Familiar Patterns to USG Firefighters: Similar to
Greece, the United States has faced increased fire risk
and record breaking fire seasons in recent years, with
particular difficulty in the wildland/urban interface
where new construction encroaches on previously
undeveloped land. As such, continuing cooperation with
a focus on management approaches, best practices, and
technical applications in fire management will be
beneficial to both countries. The following paragraphs
outline a proposed program of technical assistance and
collaboration between the GOG and USFS to maintain and
enhance this important relationship.

Burned Area Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation


19. Technical Team Findings: In ilization efforts in this area, which included
contour felling and stream grade stabilization. In the
shrub ecosystems in Evia, overall burn severity tended
to be moderate. According to the USFS Soil Scientist,
these ecosystems will recover quickly due to quick
sprouting and regrowth of fire-adapted species. The
soil scientist concluded that Greek officials were
successfully managing emergency stabilization in areas
viewed by the team.


21. In Peloponnese, the team observed a number of large
areas that demonstrated steep and/or unstable slopes and
high burn severity in close proximity to population
centers, agricultural fields, roads, infrastructure, and
world heritage archeological sites. Surviving

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structures, ranging from homes and cottage businesses in
small village communities to the ancient stadium in
Olympia, are potentially at high risk from debris flows
during the upcoming rainy season. The assessment team
concluded that this hazard needs to be evaluated as soon
as possible to prevent further loss of life and
property. The technical team was particularly concerned
about landslides and wash-outs in villages served by a
single access road, which could isolate flood affected
populations during the rainy season.


22. Recommendations: The technical team proposes to
provide immediate burned area stabilization support to
the GOG during the months of September and early October

2007. This assistance would begin with the preparation
of hazard and risk maps for fire-affected areas of
Greece, based on remote sensing and geographic
information systems data available through the U.S.
Forest Service and other sources. Maps would be shared
with the Greek Ministry of Agriculture, which is
responsible for developing appropriate remediation
treatments in fire-affected areas.


23. The technical team further proposes to identify a
modified burned area emergency rehabilitation (BAER)
team to work with MOA counterparts in late September or
early October. Based on hazard maps, the joint USFS/GOG
team would conduct on-site field investigations in
select areas to identify specific values at risk and
possible mitigation measures prior to damaging storms in
the rainy season. In meetings with the Director and
staff of the Greek Department of Forestry on September
8, the technical team confirmed that the GOG welcomes
this assistance and identified technical officers who
are planning to follow-up with the GOG.

Wildfire and Emergency Management


24. Technical Team Findings: With combined experience
of over 75 years in wildfire management, the technical
team was nonetheless struck by the scope and magnitude
of wildfire damage in Greece, particularly in the
hardest hit areas of the Peloponnese. The technical
team was impressed with the commitment and bravery of
the Hellenic Fire Brigade throughout the harrowing month
of August. The numerous ignitions, combined with
extreme fuel and weather conditions, exceeded the
response capability of the Hellenic Fire BrigadeQs
resources and infrastructure. All emergency response
agencies have limited resources, and similar situations
have occurred in the U.S.


25. The team noted that U.S. and Greek fire responders
differ in tactics and operations, which could provide
fertile ground for continuing collaboration between the
GOG and the USFS, including:

-- Initial attack and expanded dispatch;
-- Aircraft dispatch and aerial supervision;
-- The use of aerial fire retardants;
-- Shelter in place plans for remote villages;
-- Fuel reduction; and
-- Public education in fire prevention.


26. Recommendations: The technical team recommends a
follow up meeting between the USFS and the Hellenic Fire
Brigade following the conclusion of the fire season and

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the immediate emergency stabilization phase o/a January
or February 2008. Discussions will focus on best
practices from both countries and will result in a
proposed workplan for seminars, trainings, study tours,
and/or other activities, as appropriate. On September
7, the technical team met with the Secretary General of
the Ministry for Public Order and confirmed the GOGQs
interest in implementing an ongoing program of
coordination. Specific plans will be based on
consultations later in 2007 or early 2008.

Regional Cooperation


27. Technical Team Findings: According to the U.S.
Embassy in AthensQs Daily News Bulletin dated September
6, the Greek Government has proposed the establishment
of an international committee on forest fire fighting
and related phenomena, including global climate change.
According to the GOG Ministry of Public Order, the
proposed international committee will evaluate the
prospect for fire-fighting mutual aid agreements among
countries with appropriate expertise, including, inter
alia, the United States, Australia, France, and Cyprus.
The Ministry of Public Order is also promoting a
proposal by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis to form a
European forest fighting body in the Mediterranean
region. In a meeting with the technical team and Charge
dQAffaires Countryman on September 6, the Minister
invited the USFS to join forces in this effort, and
indicated his intent to include neighboring countries
such as Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia, with initial
meetings beginning in January or February 2008.


28. Recommendation: USFS proposes to participate in
the international committee, with a delegation of fire
managers, and attend the first meeting in January or
February 2008. [Comment: The United States maintains
mutual aid agreements with neighboring countries in the
Americas and worldwide, which significantly enhance and
support domestic fire response readiness and operational
capability. The technical team strongly supports the
GOGQs efforts in this regard, and believes it is
important to show strong and continuing USG support.
End comment.]
COUNTRYMAN