VZCZCXRO3106
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTH #1800/01 2530458
ZNR UUUUU ZZH  ZDK CTG RUEWMFA 6094 2740831
P 100458Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
RUEHTI/AMEMBASSY TIRANA
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 ATHENS 001800 
 
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 
 
ATHENS 00001800  001.3 OF 005 
 
 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶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 Development's 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 Agriculture's 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 
GOG's fire stabilization, rehabilitation, preparedness, and planning 
activities. 
 
-------------------------------- 
Overview of 2007 Greek Wildfires 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶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 wildfire season generally lasts from early June through 
mid-October.  End Note.]  However, according to Greek authorities, 
the 2007 season was the worst on record with an average of up to 85 
fire starts and 200 active blazes per day across the country.  A 
lengthy heat wave in June and unusually strong, dry winds in August 
exacerbated the region's risk for wildfire.  From August 23 to 
August 31, more than 130 fires broke  in the Peloponnese al between August 2 
3 and `de authorities have 0,000 hectares of 
wild land in Greece's 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 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. 
 
 
ATHENS 00001800  002.3 OF 005 
 
 
¶6.  The causes of the fires vary, and most blazes are still under 
investigation.  According to GOG authorities, some fires were the 
result of arson while others were started accidentally.  In Evia 
Region, welders triggered one of the fires.  In Ileia Prefecture on 
the Peloponnese, an elderly woman discarded burning oil from her 
frying pan, inadvertently starting a massive blaze which killed 19 
people including a mother, her mother-in-law, and her four children. 
 
 
¶7. Because of the widespread 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. 
 
------------ 
USG response 
------------ 
 
¶8.  On August 27, Embassy Charge d'Affaires, 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 Red 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 Secretary of State for Management 
Henrietta R. Fore met with members of the GOG.  [Note:  Acting 
Administrator Fore had arrived in the region on August 16 as part of 
a private trip.  End note.]  Acting Administrator Fore also gave an 
exclusive interview to Greek State-owned television, in which she 
expressed condolences on behalf of the USG and reiterated a strong 
commitment to assist the GOG with addressing future catastrophic 
fires. 
 
---------------------------- 
Inter-Agency Technical Team 
---------------------------- 
 
¶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 
 
ATHENS 00001800  003.3 OF 005 
 
¶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 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. 
 
---------------------------- 
Analysis and Recommendations 
---------------------------- 
 
Overview - 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 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 Greece's 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 "safe 
haven" 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 
 
ATHENS 00001800  004.3 OF 005 
 
 
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 the team's four-day survey, the 
USFS Soil Scientist observed fire damage and related soil 
instability, which will increase flood and landslide vulnerability 
in the upcoming rainy season. 
 
¶20.  In Attica and Evia, the team visited several sites that 
exhibited high burn severity, particularly on Mount Parnitha on the 
outskirts of Athens.  However, the team was impressed with the GOG's 
intensive slope stabilization 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 
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 
`n fire-affected areas.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 
 
ATHENS 00001800  005.2 OF 005 
 
 
ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR 
 
THIS CABLE WAS CANCELED AND RETRANSMITTED UNDER ATHENS 2019, 10 OCTOBER 
2007 BECAUSE OF PROCESSING ERRORS WITH SECTION TWO. 
 
ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR/ZFR 
 
COUNTRYMAN