A greener world is the responsibility of all of us!
We envision a world where we can all live in harmony with nature and enjoy the bounty of the land and green spaces. In the context of supporting our vision for a greener world, we plan and implement actions, donations and activities aimed at protecting and restoring the environment as well as the financial support of Non-Profit Organizations. It is important to remember, however, that prevention is equally - if not more - important and contributing to the protection of forests and green spaces is the responsibility of all of us.
The cycle of forest degradation begins with the first fires that initially lead to their transformation into scrubland and, continuing unchecked, soon leads to the perfect degradation of the productive capacity of the place, with the final result being desertification.
The concern that exists and the importance given to the problem of forest fires is therefore reasonable, given that more than 10% of the area of our country is currently covered by barren and rocky areas, a fact largely due to the repetition of the cycle of fires.
The prevention of forest fires is the ideal goal of fire protection of the forest and natural environment in general. This goal is pursued through the removal of the causes that directly or indirectly cause forest fires. Therefore, we must be prepared:
Prepare yourself
If you are outdoors
- Do not burn trash or dry grass and branches during the summer months.
- Do not light outdoor barbecues in the woods or in areas where there are dry grasses in the summer.
- Avoid work that may cause a fire (eg welding, using a wheel or other tool that creates 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 a fire zone around the house by clearing away dry grass and leaves, pine needles and branches within a radius of at least 10 meters. For this work, you can use a brush cutter or a lawnmower.
- Prune trees up to a height of 3 meters, depending on their age and condition. For this task you can choose a chainsaw or a miter saw.
- Remove dry branches from trees and shrubs with a blower or vacuum cleaner.
- 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, we remove the woody and bushy vegetation around the building at a distance of at least 10 meters since the cleaning operations of the natural vegetation 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 the covers on the chimneys and vents of 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 of a length commensurate with the area you want to protect.
- Equip yourself with a water tank, a pump that works without electricity, and a water hose.
- Equip yourself with a generator to protect yourself from sudden power outages.
As soon as you notice a fire Call the Fire Service IMMEDIATELY (tel. 199) and give clear information about:
- your exact location.
- the location, exact point and direction of the fire.
- the type of vegetation being burned.
The protection of the environment and forest lands is the business of all of us!
Source: Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection
