PREPARE
If you are outdoors
Do not burn trash or dry grass and branches during the summer months.
Do not start fires (e.g. camp, barbeque etc.) in the woods or in areas where there are dry grasses in the summer.
Avoid work that could cause a fire (e.g. welding, using a cutting disk or other tools that create sparks).
Do not throw away lit cigarettes.
Do not leave litter in the forest. There is a risk of ignition.
Respect access restrictions during high risk periods.
If your house is in or near a forest
Create an antifire zone around the house by clearing dry grass, leaves, pine needles and branches in a radius of at least 10 meters.
Prune trees up to a height of 3 meters, depending on their age and condition.
Remove dry branches from trees and shrubs.
Do not let tree branches touch the walls, roof and balconies of the house. Prune them leaving a distance of at least 5 meters from the house.
Thin the woody vegetation so that the branches of one tree are at least 3 meters from the branches of another. For even greater protection, remove the woody and bushy vegetation around the building at a distance of at least 10 meters. The cleaning operations of the natural vegetation is imposed to protect the buildings do not in any way conflict with the provisions of the forestry legislation.
Do not install plastic gutters or pipes in the walls of the house.
Do not install shutters made of flammable materials on windows and balcony doors.
Make sure that covers on chimneys and vents in the house are made of non-combustible material to prevent sparks from entering.
Do not store flammable items near the house.
Place the firewood in closed and protected areas.
Do not build uncovered fuel tanks near the house.
Get the right fire extinguishers and take care of their maintenance.
Equip yourself with a watering hose that is as long as the area you want to protect.
Equip yourself with a water tank, a simple pump that works without electricity, and a water hose.
As soon as you notice a fire
Call the Fire Service IMMEDIATELY (tel. 199) and give clear information about:
– the location and exact location where you are,
– the location, exact location and direction of the fire.
– the type of vegetation being burned.
If the fire is approaching your home
Keep your cool.
Move all flammable materials from around the building to closed and protected areas.
Close all passages (chimneys, windows, doors, etc.) so that embers do not penetrate inside the house.
Turn off natural gas and liquid fuel supplies inside and outside the home.
Retract canopies, awnings etc. on balconies, windows and doors.
Facilitate access for fire engines by opening the garden gate.
Place a ladder on the outside of the house, opposite the direction of the fire so that direct access to the roof is possible.
Connect the watering pipes and spread them to cover the perimeter of the house.
If visibility is reduced, turn on its interior and exterior lights to see through smoke.
Once the fire passes
Get out of the house and immediately extinguish the remaining small fires.
Check for at least 48 hours, at regular intervals, the perimeter and exterior areas of the home for flare-ups.
If the fire has reached your home
Do not leave the building unless your escape is fully assured.
Do not get into a car. The probability of survival in a house made of non-combustible materials is much greater than that of a car in smoke and flames.
If you stay at home:
– Close doors and windows tightly.
– Block any cracks and openings with wet cloths to prevent smoke from entering.
– Remove the curtains from the windows.
– Move furniture near windows and exterior doors to the center of rooms.
– Close intermediate doors to slow the spread of fire.
– Fill the bathtub, sinks and buckets with spare water.
– Gather all together in one room.
– Make sure you have a flashlight and spare batteries with you in case of a power outage.
If your house is wooden, seek shelter in a brick built house.
If an organized evacuation from the area is ordered, strictly follow the instructions of the authorities and the routes that will be given to you.
