{"id":2004,"date":"2025-11-20T15:21:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T13:21:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/news\/tailored-project\/%cf%80%cf%81%cf%8c%ce%b3%cf%81%ce%b1%ce%bc%ce%bc%ce%b1-%cf%85%cf%80%ce%bf%cf%83%cf%84%ce%ae%cf%81%ce%b9%ce%be%ce%b7%cf%82-%ce%b5%ce%b8%ce%b5%ce%bb%ce%bf%ce%bd%cf%84%ce%b9%ce%ba%cf%8e%ce%bd-%ce%bf\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T13:30:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T10:30:05","slug":"support-program-for-volunteer-forest-firefighting-teams","status":"publish","type":"tailored-project","link":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/tailored-project\/support-program-for-volunteer-forest-firefighting-teams\/","title":{"rendered":"Support Program for Volunteer Forest Firefighting Teams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"gb-element-5b7e1450\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"902\" data-media-id=\"3494\" class=\"gb-media-d62cfd31\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dasopirosvestes-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dasopirosvestes-1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dasopirosvestes-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dasopirosvestes-1-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dasopirosvestes-1-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/dasopirosvestes-1-1536x866.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-5b46ee71\">\n<h1 class=\"gb-text gb-text-3f282b9c\">Support Program for Volunteer Forest Firefighting Teams<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-dc1840b5\">\n<div class=\"gb-element-e478d17e\"><div style=\"color:#e76d6c\" class=\"has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-post-date has-text-color\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-20T15:21:50+02:00\">20\/11\/2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-11f7586c dn-diamond-item-alt\"><a href=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/project-type\/emergency-response-recovery\/\" rel=\"tag\">Emergency Response &amp; Recovery<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-b1f1f2a2\">\n<div class=\"gb-element-1be72f1d\">\n<h2 class=\"gb-text gb-text-3db5e7dd\">NO MORE HEROES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-212a2cc4\"><strong>On the front lines of the firefighting effort<\/strong>, with consistency and efficiency, <strong>volunteer forest firefighters<\/strong> in Greece fight their own battle every year, making a significant contribution to the Civil Protection effort. We often hear statements <strong>calling these volunteers \u201cheroes\u201d<\/strong>. It is certainly an honor, but it <strong>also hides another reality<\/strong> for these<br\/>citizens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-187a9d9e\">Volunteer wildland firefighters are not \u201cheroes\u201d; they are active members of their local communities who, driven by a strong sense of responsibility, choose to protect nature and their fellow citizens. For more than 15 years, we have been working alongside other organizations to strengthen volunteer groups as an active part of civil society, providing equipment, specialized training, and by engaging in public discourse, so that volunteers can fight on the front lines of wildfires with resources that make them more effective and, above all, safer.  \u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-text gb-text-ccbdd9e0\">SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR VOLUNTEER FOREST FIREFIGHTING TEAMS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-9f34429b\">Through the \u201c<strong>Support Program for Volunteer Forest Firefighting Teams<\/strong>\u201d (2022\u20132026), the <strong>Non-profit Foundation<br\/>Desmos<\/strong>, in collaboration with <strong>WWF Greece<\/strong> and <strong>HIGGS<\/strong>, empowered volunteers through hands-on experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-17c1a050\">The project was carried out with the support of the <strong>Athina I. Martinou Foundation<\/strong>, the <strong>John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation<\/strong> and the <strong>National Bank of Greece<\/strong>, as part of <strong>Initiative 21<\/strong>. The contribution from the program\u2019s three supporters, totaling nearly \u20ac1,000,000, served as a catalyst, mobilizing additional resources of \u20ac500,000 from private initiatives, thereby further expanding the initiative\u2019s positive impact to support more groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-5e82ba84\">The program\u2019s nationwide coverage contributed to the <strong>sustainability<\/strong> of the teams, to <strong>meeting their basic needs<\/strong> for personal protective equipment and wildland firefighting gear, strengthening them through hands-on training,<br\/>and <strong>enhancing their role<\/strong> within their operational framework. The program\u2019s substantial contribution was immediately evident when all the teams that received support played a decisive role in combating the<br\/>devastating wildfires in Attica, Corinthia, Rhodes, and Evros during the 2023 fire season, in the 2024 Attica fire season, and in the 2025 fires in Attica, Crete, Achaea, Preveza, and Chios. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-afb2d79b dn-tailored-grid\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"530\" class=\"gb-media-a4c9a419\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_01.jpg\" title=\"ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_01\" srcset=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_01.jpg 900w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_01-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_01-768x452.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\n\n\n\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"530\" class=\"gb-media-b91456bb\" alt=\"\" title=\"ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_02\" src=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_02.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_02.jpg 900w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_02-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ethelontes_dasopoyrosvestes_infographic_02-768x452.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u03a0\u03c1\u03cc\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03bc\u03bc\u03b1 \u03a5\u03c0\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03ae\u03c1\u03b9\u03be\u03b7\u03c2 \u0395\u03b8\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ce\u03bd \u039f\u03bc\u03ac\u03b4\u03c9\u03bd \u0394\u03b1\u03c3\u03bf\u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03c3\u03af\u03b1\u03c2\u00bb (2022-2026)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4KfFhiWcfuY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-text gb-text-732d34f7\">WHAT WE&#8217;VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-05be6a45 dn-tailored-grid\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u038c\u03c7\u03b9 \u0386\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf \u0389\u03c1\u03c9\u03b5\u03c2: \u0395\u03be\u03b5\u03b9\u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03ad\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u03be\u03bf\u03c0\u03bb\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2 2\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wufxNILS-CQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-f34e45b6\">SPECIALISED EQUIPMENT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-94bcb4ee\">Through the program, 2,888 volunteers from 71 forest fire protection teams were provided with high-quality equipment, 24 of which participated in both cycles (2022\u20132024 and 2024\u20132026). The evaluation and selection of the teams were conducted transparently, using clear criteria, as well as interviews and on-site inspections at the volunteer teams\u2019 headquarters. This process has now become a model for other organisations.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-edb4e5dc dn-tailored-grid\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u038c\u03c7\u03b9 \u0386\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf \u0389\u03c1\u03c9\u03b5\u03c2: \u0392\u03b9\u03c9\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u03b5\u03ba\u03c0\u03b1\u03af\u03b4\u03b5\u03c5\u03c3\u03b7 1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SqLFcv3rp1o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-1637518c\">EDUCATION AND TRAINING\u200b<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-0f30f63f\">Through the workshops that were organized, 1,240 volunteers and local community organisations enhanced their knowledge of forest fire prevention and management. The pivotal role of ground crews highlighted the need for practical training in fire suppression as well as in controlling the perimeter of a fire. Consequently, in the second cycle (2024\u20132026), hands-on field workshops were added, in which 476 volunteers were trained.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-element-4e7c6550 dn-tailored-grid\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u038c\u03c7\u03b9 \u0386\u03bb\u03bb\u03bf \u0389\u03c1\u03c9\u03b5\u03c2:  \u03a0\u03bb\u03b1\u03af\u03c3\u03b9\u03bf \u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5\u03c1\u03b3\u03af\u03b1\u03c2 1\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IM15jujQp1w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"gb-text gb-text-35808ddb\">PARTICIPATION IN THE PUBLIC DIALOGUE\u200b<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-text gb-text-c38d81e6\">The program brought the challenges faced by volunteers to the forefront of public discourse. For the first time, through the state\u2019s new \u201cActive Battle\u201d law, the needs of volunteer forest firefighters received targeted support. Now, the law provides for certified training and insurance for volunteers, their institutional mobilisation, financial support for equipment, and justified leave from work.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The characterization of volunteer forest fire fighters as &#8220;heroes&#8221; hides another reality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":3494,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"tags":[173],"project-type":[18],"class_list":["post-2004","tailored-project","type-tailored-project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-volunteer-forest-firefighters","project-type-emergency-response-recovery"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tailored-project\/2004","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tailored-project"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/tailored-project"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2004"},{"taxonomy":"project-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/desmos.digitalnest.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/project-type?post=2004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}