Minutes from “Relief of Disaster Situations on Skopelos” meeting held on Wed 16^th April at the Demotiko Kafenion. 

Next meeting to be held at Demotiko Kafenion
at 8.30. p.m. on Wednesday 7^th May  

  Present 12 interested parties.

Pavlos & Kiki presented literature; publicity posters/educational leaflets produced by Cypriot Forestry and Fire dept’s. These discussed with a view to producing “local” i.e. Skopelos version. (see below).

Kiki proposed a working group to liaise with Fire Department, Ministry of Agriculture in order to promote awareness and prevent further occurrences. She has prepared a list of questions:

• How may citizens register for Rudimentary training in Fire protection/prevention course?
• When (times of day/weather conditions etc) and where (environs of Forest ) are citizens allowed to incinerate wood, waste?
• How do Fire Dept’ open/clear fire protection zones?
• Is there a map* of the Forest showing water supplies/hydrants?
• There has been talk of people being allowed to collect/clear wood-who should they consult regarding this?

*An ex-fire Chief from Skopelos who was active in fire fighting on the mainland last year, says the Forestry dept do hold a map of the forest.

Daphne believed that litter in the forest poses an additional fire hazard and that it was necessary to obtain permission before incinerating materials. Who should one contact? She also considered it would be helpful to ascertain what contingency plans (if any) existed and where copies of these could be obtained.

On the issue of communication, Kiki reiterated the importance of getting important information out to the community and “following through” while memories of recent   events and the potential for disaster were still fresh.

Makki currently has a photograph of the fire on display in her office as a graphic/salutary reminder of the consequences.

Daphne suggested it would be useful to have a “First Station Message Board” sited prominently to display information of this nature bi/multi-lingually. She considers that there is at present very little attempt to communicate civic events/ information.

Pavlos stressed the necessity of involving the Fire services. From a practical point of view; the weather is getting warmer and we still don’t know what to do. We need to create a team and seek professional expertise. [Discussion became somewhat anecdotal at this point] Residents expressing variously their concerns that: Fire Brigade were reluctant to work with civilians, that Forestry was no longer a viable concern in Greece and that attitudes/consciousness need to be respectively changed and raised over a period of time.

Pavlos urged that we must therefore investigate what plans exist and that we must ensure they are implemented.

RH Suggested seeking E.U. Policy regarding Forestry. As a member, Greece should surely be bound by legislature here.

Makki believes a letter to the Council seeking representation at their next meeting and detailing Citizens proposals, as discussed here, would be beneficial. It would enable representatives (Kiki, Daphne, Pavlos and Makki) to determine what contingency plans exist and through using the existing civic structures would enable a more inclusive perspective.(Kiki, and above will meet to draft a letter).

Kiki proposed inviting Professor Maigaris from Mytilini (University of the Aegean ) to give a talk on forestry.

Yorgos. Fencing off the damaged areas of Forest is a priority. To prevent animals eating new growth and slowing regeneration. 

Kiki.Apparently Glossa is twinned with a town on Cyprus that has offered us trees. Need to ascertain what sort and how these can be made available. Additionally, an offer of extra water containers was made. Why didn’t Local authority accept these?

Kiki. “The Cultural Organisation of Skopelos” is ready to run. She considers that in addition to its primary aims, it could also provide a useful vehicle for structuring and facilitating volunteer work of this nature.

Theanu  reported that The Greek Communist Party has engaged in parliamentary discussions regarding Forestry in Greece . It is therefore a topical, and in the light of recent events, pressing issue. 

Daphne. Following on from educational leaflet (above top). We need to press ahead to produce a small, localised version. TBA.

AOB  Makki proposed a “Fund-raiser” after Easter proceeds to go towards publicity/ educational leaflet etc. 

Held on Wednesday 9^th April 2008 at 8.30 p.m. in the Dimotiko Kafenio.

Present: The Head of the Fire service for Skopelos

15 interested parties

Theano reported that all of the local authorities had been informed that this meeting is taking place. The position in relation to fire lighting remains,
as outlined by the Head of the Fire Department according to last
weeks minutes.

An education program aimed at children is being prepared, and a follow on one for adults is planned. Dates now have to be agreed for both.

Information about the obligations when lighting fires, and for the cleaning of land and management of litter, will be put out with all water bills in April. This leaflet will be bilingual ( Greek/English).

Pablos Seekass, from Cyprus living in Old Klima;

• The likelihood of fire in the summer is high and we need to prevent another disaster.

Other countries such as Cyprus , Israel , France and Australia have lots of experience of fires of this nature. Cyprus is prepared to send an expert to advise on how to plan for fires, how to create zones of containment, and how to inform the public.

Pablos was brought up in the knowledge of which tools to use and how to fight fire. On Cyprus all are considered to have a responsibility to fight fire. He says we can give ourselves as volunteers if we are properly informed and organized.

Stamatis (former vice mayor of Elios)

The forests have fallen into disuse and are not regularly walked or managed as a result they are old and overgrown. If we do not create uses for the Forests they will be more likely to burn from neglect. There is little that we can do to improve the situation for this summer. In the future we should either do everything or nothing. If we don’t care leave the Forests as they are.  I for one am concerned because I live at Elios, it is surrounded by forest and if that catches fire we are lost.

• 80% of fires are started accidentally by lightening,
  by bottles thrown away and heating up in the sun,
  and by still lit cigarettes being thrown away.
• 90% of the forest is in private ownership where the Forestry Department has no jurisdiction.
• The road from Skopelos to Loutraki should be cleared.  Where the land is in private ownership it should be cleared by the owner.
• Most of the forests on Skopelos are between 80 and 100 years old and would stand little chance of regenerating if another fire were to occur.
• Neither Firemen or the Forestry Department have a map of the extent of the damage or of the overall topography of the island. We need this to be made clear in a constitution.
  

There were a number of reflections upon how the Forests used to be managed:

• Bush fires used to be deliberately started in order to maintain fire breaks in the forest.
• All calderemies (pathes) had to be a minimum of 2 meters wide, so it was the responsibility of the landowner on either side to keep them clear.
• Resin used to be collected from the trees so access used to be maintained.
• Wood is no longer collected for fires or for baking.
• There used to be a law applied where policemen would direct people to clear areas. This has fallen into disuse. 
  Every family had to give two days of personal work to maintain the roads and forests, this is no longer in effect.
• There used to be woodmen who lived in the woods and cared for them – today nothing can go through the woods and they are mostly in private ownership with complicated deeds. In the past the Forestry Department used to identify which wood could be cut.

Some suggestions for better use of the wood were also made;

• Make higher levels of government aware of the situation in order to attract grants for restoration work.
• Skopelos is a Conservation Island – what does this mean?
• Can we force the municipality to take responsibility?
• Some grants will be given in accordance with the work that needs to be done – what is actually being applied for now?

• Those on unemployment benefits should be given tools to work
  in the forests.
• Can we use the wood to create a communal heating system for an area like Elios or Glossa?

Maxi and Voula;

• Can we write to the Prime Minister to raise both awareness and funds?
• Last week there were more people here and 2 public servants who were very defensive and did not see a role for volunteer help.
  We need to raise awareness before the support falls away.
• We need to make more people attend these meetings,
  including the younger ones.
• Voula agreed to talk to the Forestry Department to make them aware that they should attend these meetings and that we want to know what is being done to zone the forest and create fire belts.

Kiki;

There is no education program available. We need 70 names to activate this education program during the winter so that we can learn the basics from a range of organizations.

Theano;

• We need to know what we could do with group pressure
• All people who have houses in Skopelos but live in Thessaloniki have been informed of what we are doing. They will add weight to this cause when they come in the summer.

• We need organization now to prepare for the hot summer months.
• We need to preserve the trees for both aesthetic reasons and for the safety of the island – so that the soil does not get eroded.
• There are a lot of people who want to help at all levels. Many are unaware of this group but would help if they knew of it.

Actions;

• Voula to talk to the Forestry Dept about attending meetings and disclosing plans for firebreaks and maintenance of the Forests.
• Theano to write a bilingual information leaflet to go out with the water bills in May.
• All to encourage volunteers to meet at 11.00 on Sunday to start to clear logs along the roadside at the start of the fire damage between Stafilos and Agnondas. Bring gloves. Voula and Maxi to put pressure on the mayor to clear.
• Alistair will talk next week on fire prevention and
  management in Scotland .
• Andonis to talk to his patients to raise awareness of the regulations concerning lighting fires and to see if anymore people can be encouraged to attend these meetings.
• Nana will put information on her website as she has quite a wide circulation.
• The expert from Cyprus will come to talk about a plan for the island.
• Kiki will collect names for the winter education program.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday
16th April 2008 at 8.30 p.m. in the Dimotiko Kafenio.

 ###

Minutes of a meeting of those interested in helping in the relief of disaster situations on Skopelos.

02/04/2008  

Present:

• 40 residents of Skopelos
• The Head of the Fire Service for Skopelos
• A representative of the Volos Fire Service
• Two representatives of the Skopelos Forestry Department

The Head of the Fire Service for Skopelos

The main points made by the Head of the Fire Department
for Skopelos were as follows:

When the fire is raging it is better to leave the fighting to the firemen who are trained for this work. Make sure the roads are kept clear for the emergency vehicles to get through. The fire at Agnondas was very big and we had to work in front of it, in order to protect Skopelos, as the wind was blowing the fire in that direction. The flames were very high and covered a wide area. This would have been a dangerous situation for volunteers to be involved in.

When the fire has subsided extra help would be appreciate to make sure the fires are out completely and to help with the clearing up.

More importantly the public can take preventative measures:

·         Never light fires close to the Forest

·         Always make sure water is at hand

·         Do not leave a fire unattended

·         Put the fire out completely before you leave it

·         Only light fires between 8.00 and 10.00 in the morning during the winter months, up until 1^st May

·         Those lighting a fire in the afternoon should be reported to the Fire Dept.

·         No fires should be lit during the summer months
(My comment; Forbidden to light fires after the 1st of May
until 1st of October or 1st of November - the fire-department
will announce this!)

·         If you are planning to light a big fire you should provide a map showing your position to the Fire Dept. and notify them of when you intend to burn

·         Keep your own properties clear of debris and litter to prevent a fire being fuelled and getting out of control

People found lighting fires, during times when they are not allowed to, will be expected to put the fire out as soon as they are told. If they do not do so the Fire Service will come and put the fire out, and take the person concerned to court for breaking the law.

The Fire Department telephone number is:

24240 24199

Dialing 199 will put your call through to Volos who will have to refer back to the Skopelos Fire Department.

Main points made by The Forestry Department

There are a number of issues:

• How to manage the Forest
• What to do with the burned trees
• How to regenerate the Forest

Firstly it is clear that a lot of the forests are privately owned and that the Forestry Department has no jurisdiction over these.
We have ways of managing our own forests and we do encourage the public to help themselves to wood lying on the forest floor.
The forests are there for the public to enjoy.

We propose a plan to make all roads through the forests wider in order to create more effective fire breaks. This would cost millions euros and we don’t know if the government would fund this. We do have some monies granter for the making of reservoirs so that we have water available.

We could ask to have a Fire Engine attached to the Forestry team as sometimes the Fire Service are not so familiar with an area of forest and may, as a result, find the fire too late, after it has spread.

There was a fire at Kalogeros 50 years ago. At that time the trees there were over a 100 years old, and as a result that area has not regenerated well.
We have however made a new road down that side of the island in order
to be able to get to a fire there quickly, and to help to prevent
a fire from spreading.

We have a difficulty with clearing timber after a fire as many people do not now need fire wood for their homes and we do not have ships available to take the wood off the island, or an industry that could use it. We cannot just roll the logs into the water as that causes a problem too!

The points made by some of the residents were as follows:

• We are interested in being involved in all aspects of disaster
  relief and prevention
• We wish to be involved with the consent and co-operation of the Fire Department, The Forestry Department and The Mayors Office
• We would like a disaster plan to be formulated
• We would like the help that we offer to be an organized effort as we are aware that random acts are dangerous
• We would like a series of seminars and some training in what to do before during and after a disaster
• We also need to learn about the impact of climate change
  upon our ecosystem
• We would like some roles and responsibilities identified so that we could carry them out in organized groups
• Information could be provided, to those who do not attend these meetings,  by leaflet dropping, and by broadcasting using 
  a loudspeaker on a car
• Many old folk are not aware of the fire burning regulations and will carry on as they always have – they do need to be informed

• Some people, who are old, own large areas of land and cannot keep them clear themselves, could they be offered any help?