House protection from fire

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House protection from fire

It is apparent that the summer season in Greece, comes with large disasterous forest fires. To understand how much this situation affects us and the degree of risk, we have collected some statistics from last year (2021):

  • A total of 321,543 acres were burned by the fires in 2021.
  • The Fire Department in 2021 recorded 8,728 fires. From the fires, 3 people lost their lives.
  • In Attica, in August alone, 31 areas were evacuated.
  • A total of more than 940 houses were burned.

Source: Fire Brigade of Greece

It easy to understand from the statistics how easily a residence can be damaged by a natural phenomenon such as fire. As the facts point out, we should all know that house protection from fire is a serious issue. For this reason we have also collected some prevention and protection instructions for before and after the end of the fire.

House protection from fire. What to do in case of fire?

IF THE FIRE IS APPROACHING YOUR HOME

  • Stay calm.
  • Move all flammable materials from the surroundings of the building to enclosed and protected areas.
  • Close all possible entries (chimneys, windows, doors, etc.) so that the flames do not enter the interior of the house.
  • Turn off gas and liquid fuel supplies inside and outside the house.
  • Pull in the tents from the balconies and windows.
  • Facilitate the access of fire trucks by opening the garden door.
  • Place a ladder on the outside of the house, in the opposite direction of the fire so that there is the possibility of direct access to the roof.
  • Connect all watering pipes and spread them so that the perimeter of the house is covered.
  • If visibility is reduced, turn on interior and exterior lights to make it visible through the smoke.

IF THE FIRE HAS REACHED YOUR HOME

  • Do not leave the building unless your escape is fully secured.
  • Do not get into a car. The probability of survival in a house made of non-flammable materials is much greater than that in a car located in smoke and flames.
  • If you stay at home:
    – Close the doors and windows tightly.
    – Block the cracks with wet cloths so that the smoke does not get inside.
    – Remove the curtains from the windows.
    – Move to the interior of the rooms any furniture located near the windows and exterior doors.
    – Close the inside doors to slow the spread of the fire.
    – Fill the bathtub, washbasins and buckets with spare water.
    – Gather everyone together in one room.
    – Make sure there is a flashlight and spare batteries with you in case of a power outage.
  • If your house is wooden, look for shelter in a concrete or brick built house.
  • If an organized evacuation from the area is ordered, follow the instructions of the authorities and the routes that will be given to you.

AS SOON AS THE FIRE PASSES

  • Get out of the house and immediately put out any remaining microfires.
  • Check for at least 48 hours, at regular intervals, the perimeter and the outdoor areas of the house for the possibility of resurgences.

For more information and instructions visit the Civil Protection website.

To see insurance programs that cover such cases click here for a holiday home and here for a residence.