Supervisors info:
Β. Μαρτζάκλης
M.Sc. Αξιωματικός Πυροσβεστικού Σώματος, Πτυχιούχος Δημόσιας Διοίκησης Παντείου Πανεπιστημίου, Expert E.U. Civil Protection Mechanism
Δρ. Ε. Λέκκας,Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Ε. Βασιλάκης, Επικ. Καθηγ. ΕΚΠΑ
Δρ. Β. Αντωνίου,Δρ. Γεωλόγος, Ε.Δ.Ι.Π. ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Wildland fires are among nature’s most terrifying and dangerous phenomena and they are posing a great challenge even for the most developed countries of the world. In Greece, given the particular environmental conditions, topography and microclimate, the adversity of the phenomena is amplified. Furthermore, the ongoing climate change is bringing longer and more intense wildfire seasons. Increasing greenhouse gas emissions are warming the environment, creating fire-friendly weather conditions and escalating the potential for very large fires (Mega fires). The response to larger, more intense wildfires has become increasingly complex and costly, as it requires a large-scale utilization of assets. This is due, in large part, to the expanding human development in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development.
For the agencies tasked with managing wildfires, combined aerial and ground suppression resources can form a suite of effective tools. Aerial firefighting offers three major advantages over ground suppression resources, speed, access and observation. Proper utilization of those unique characteristics, can bolster overall firefighting capability. Although the importance of aerial firefighting is indisputable, there are cases of air operations lacking the desired results. This can be mainly attributed to the complexity of the aerial firefighting framework. Effectiveness of the aerial fire suppression depends on many factors, including aircraft characteristics, ambient conditions, fire behavior, along with organizational and infrastructure arrangements. Air operations must be effectively integrated into the incident management structure and collaborative synergies along with the development of common standards and operating practices that must be established between collaborating entities. The actors responsible for managing the aerial suppression must ensure the efficiency and safety of air operations and mitigate any potential perception that resources are not being well utilized. This can pose a serious challenge, especially when seen under the light of the acute economic austerity subjected currently to Greece.
The scope of this study is to provide analysis of the complete aerial suppression framework and the currently implemented strategies regarding the management of aerial firefighting in Greece. Furthermore, to provide a brief overview of what is considered to be the best practices regarding the management of aerial firefighting at international level. Aim of this multi variable analysis, is to identify potential weaknesses and fail points and facilitate the development of proposals regarding the optimization of currently implemented strategies regarding the management of aerial firefighting in Greece. The main goal is to promote the nation’s aerial firefighting capabilities in an efficient and cost-effective way, focusing on operational effectiveness, safety and sustainability.
Keywords:
Strategies regarding the management of aerial firefighting, coordination and supervision of aerial suppression, efficiency, flight safety.
