A bill entitled “Active Combat: Comprehensive Reform of the System for the Prevention, Preparedness and Response to Forest Fires and Other Natural, Technological and Man-Made Disasters” was presented today to the Council of Ministers by the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Giannis Kefalogiannis. The legislation marks a major institutional and operational shift in how Greece prevents, manages and learns from natural disasters.

In an environment of accelerating climate change, which is increasing both the frequency and intensity of extreme events, Greece is positioning itself at the forefront of civil protection, according to the ministry. The bill aims to overhaul the existing framework by introducing new mechanisms, tools and regulations, with a strong emphasis on prevention, coordination and institutional learning.

For decades, Greece relied on an ex-post disaster response model, in which operational action began only after an event had already occurred. The new framework introduces a different philosophy: fires are addressed before they break out, through predefined operational rules designed to limit damage before it becomes irreversible, the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection said.

Key provisions of the bill include:

A unified network of coordination centres and rules of engagement

An Incident Operations Centre will operate within each Regional Fire Command, fully interconnected with the National Operations Coordination Centre (NOCC). This structure ensures a single, real-time operational picture from the local to the national level, enabling faster and more effective decision-making. Standardised command and response protocols are also introduced, based on the internationally recognised Incident Command System (ICS). Under the new rules of engagement, all personnel will know in advance who issues orders and how mobilisation is carried out, reducing confusion in the critical early hours of a crisis.

Mandatory Fire Prevention Plans for municipalities and regions

Mandatory Fire Prevention Plans will be introduced for every municipality and region. These plans will include mapping of critical areas, identification of high-risk locations, designation of escape routes and water intake points, and inventories of available machinery, technical resources and rapid-response clean-up crews.

Planned burning as a new prevention tool

For the first time in Greek law, prescribed (controlled) burning is formally established as a fire-prevention measure. Under strict conditions and scientific supervision, authorities will be able to carry out limited, planned burns to reduce accumulated forest fuel ahead of the fire season — a practice already used in countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal and France.

Creation of a Special Flood Risk Assessment Committee

A Special Committee for Flood Risk Assessment will be established, staffed by specialised hydrologists and scientists. The committee will assess not only meteorological data but also regional vulnerability, soil saturation, river behaviour and local infrastructure conditions.

Register of auxiliary forces to strengthen volunteer participation

The bill places strong emphasis on volunteerism through the creation of a Registry of Auxiliary Forces. Citizens and businesses possessing critical equipment — such as water trucks, heavy machinery, drones or generators — will be able to declare their availability for immediate use. Volunteer firefighters will also be allowed to operate outside their local jurisdictions when needed.

Institutionalised “lessons learned” mechanism

The legislation strengthens post-crisis evaluation by establishing an independent scientific committee to assess major fires exceeding 100,000 acres. An annual public report on each fire season will also be published, featuring specific and measurable performance indicators.

Upgrade of the Arson Crimes Directorate

The Directorate of Arson Crimes (D.A.E.E.) will be upgraded with a new organisational structure, certified experts and the creation of 36 specialised Arson Investigation Units (A.K.A.E.E.). These units will work closely with other authorities, including the Hellenic Police, the Coast Guard, the Armed Forces and Europol.

Upgrade of the Fire Academy

The Fire Academy will be institutionally upgraded to function as a higher education institution with hybrid characteristics of both a university and a military academy. The Officers’ and Firefighters’ Schools will gain permanent teaching staff, collaborate with academic and research institutions in Greece and abroad, and offer postgraduate and doctoral programmes. The School of Firefighters for mid-level personnel is expected to reopen after 15 years.

Aerial firefighting capacity

Under the “AIGIS” programme, the privately owned fleet of aerial firefighting assets will be strengthened, and Fire Service officers will be trained as pilots and aircraft engineers.

New Fire Brigades on remote and small islands

Special provisions address Greece’s island geography, allowing for the establishment of new fire outposts on remote and small islands. By decision of the Fire Service Chief, small permanent firefighting units may be created with defined areas of responsibility and appropriate equipment, ensuring immediate local coverage in line with the constitutional principle of insularity.

Overall, the Active Combat bill constitutes a comprehensive national strategy for disaster prevention and management. It establishes a modern, interoperable and technocratic civil protection system focused on prevention, accountability and continuous improvement, while actively supporting frontline responders. By fostering cooperation among society, local authorities and the scientific community, the new framework makes crisis response a shared responsibility. At a time when the climate crisis allows no room for delay, strengthening civil protection is not a luxury but a prerequisite for safety, quality of life and national resilience.