Hellenic Fire Service

Hellenic Fire Department

Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα Pyrosvestiko Soma
Fire Service overview
Formed	1926 (1926)
Preceding Fire Service	Police Fire Brigade
Jurisdiction	Greece
Headquarters	Athens, Greece
Motto	ΘΑΡΣΕΙΝ ΣΩΖΕΙΝ (be brave and save)
Employees	8,000
Fire Service executive	Lieutenant General Matthaiopoulos Vasileios, Commander in Chief
Website	www.fireservice.gr

The Hellenic Fire Service (Greek: Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα) is the national agency of Greece for fire and rescue service. It is part of the Ministry for Citizen Protection.^[1]

History[]

In 1833, with the establishment of the Greek Kingdom, the fire responsibility was given to the individual prefectures and municipalities. In 1854 a Firemen Company (Λόχος Πυροσβεστών) was formed in Athens, as part of the Greek Army, expanded in 1861 into a two-company mixed sapper and firemen formation (Διλοχία Σκαπανέων και Πυροσβεστών). It was not until 1914 that the corps, now again known as Firemen Company and still under military control, was expanded to other cities outside Athens, covering also Thessaloniki, Patras and Piraeus.

In 1926, the Fire Service was formed as a separate branch within the military, but proved ineffective, so that in 1929, a Greek émigré from Russia, the former head of St Petersburg Fire Service Alkiviadis Kokkinakis, was tasked with reforming the service. In 1930, the Fire Service was reconstituted as an independent national authority under the Ministry of the Interior. Until 1975 the chiefs of the service were transferred from the Gendarmerie or the Cities Police.

From 1998 the Fire Service has also the responsibility for forest fires, taking over from the Forestry Service.

Operation[]

Its mission is to provide safety for the citizens and their property. It operates during fires, forest fires, car accidents, other natural or man-made disasters and during rescue operations. Other duties include the collaboration with the other Greek security forces, prevention measures and information and/or education of the public. The various legal and regulatory texts describing the organization and operation of the Fire Service were codified in 1992 in Presidential Decree 210.^[2]

Organization[]

1. The central body is located in Athens
2. Regional Fire Services Administration
3. Fire station of four grades (a,b,c,d) throughout the country
4. Smaller fire stations (klimakia), plus voluntary fire stations and voluntary klimakia
5. Special Units for disasters (EMAK)
6. Special services:
   1. Firefighting Academy
   2. Coordinating Center (tel.199)
   3. General Warehouse Material
   4. Confrontation of arson crimes

Voluntary Corps[]

In 1991, a new Voluntary Corps was formed for volunteers^[3][4] (today the 15% of the strength). Volunteers act as a support force and they have to be officially recognized and trained by the Greek state. The legal and regulatory framework for volunteers in the Hellenic Fire Service and the Hellenic Coast Guard was updated with Law 4029 in 2011.^[5]

Equipment[]

Since the 1930s, the Fire Service has used more than 3,500 vehicles. Today it owns about 2,500 trucks and cars (1,500 fire engines and fire tenders, 800 auxiliary and 200 special), 44 firefighting aircraft, 20 helicopters (5 belonging to the House and 15 leased) and 10 firefighting vessels.

Training[]

The training takes place at the Firefighting Academy (Pyrosvestiki Akademia) which is located in Kato Kifissia (

38°04′55″N 23°47′18″E / 38.081830°N 23.788287°E / 38.081830; 23.788287) with an annex at Villia Attikis. The first "Firefighting School" was established in 1936 at Sarri Street (an outpost of the 1st Fire Station) in Athens, while the Academy was established in 1968.

Ranks[]

Title	Lieutenant General	Major General	Brigadier	Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel	Fire Major	Fire Captain	Fire Lieutenant	Fire Second Lieutenant
Greek Title	Αντιστράτηγος	Υποστράτηγος	Αρχιπύραρχος	Πύραρχος	Αντιπύραρχος	Επιπυραγός	Πυραγός	Υποπυραγός	Ανθυποπυραγός
Insignia

Title	Warrant officer (NCO)	Master Sergeant	Sergeant	Senior Firefighter	Firefighter
Greek Title	Πυρονόμος	Αρχιπυροσβέστης Παραγωγικής Σχολής	Αρχιπυροσβέστης Μη Παραγωγικής Σχολής	Υπαρχιπυροσβέστης	Πυροσβέστης
Insignia

Gallery[]

• 

  Old TEMAX fire-fighting vehicle

• 

  Fire in ultra-high voltage transformer

• 

  Fire station in Thessaloniki

• 

  HFS automobile

• 

  HFS Jeep

• 

  HFS vehicle

• 

  ELVO fire engine

• 

  TEMAX fire engine

• 

  A Mil Mi-26TC in firefighter role in action

See also[]

• Hellenic Police
• Hellenic Coast Guard
• List of fire departments

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• http://www.fireservice.gr