WCK mobilizes amid wildfires in Greece
A historic heatwave gripped Greece in late July—temperatures reached 115 degrees fahrenheit, the country’s hottest day on record. The heat combined with dry, windy conditions, ignited more than 100 wildfires throughout the country. Over the course of two weeks, firefighters and citizen volunteers jumped into action, working side-by-side, and doing whatever they could to save communities and forests.
WCK’s Relief Team arrived in Greece as new fires were igniting daily and mobilized to heavily impacted regions to find areas where people needed support. We quickly identified that the greatest need for meals and water was on the frontlines of the blazes where first responders were working under grueling circumstances. With fires spread all across the country, we established teams in multiple locations and used any means necessary—from hiking to ATVs—to get meals to people in need.
Island of Rhodes
Southeastern Greece
When we first reached Greece, the worst of the wildfires were raging on the island of Rhodes. Nearly 20,000 people—mostly tourists—evacuated the island as locals worked with first responders to save homes. “Everybody is doing whatever it is that they can to save their village,” said Sam, WCK’s Director of Emergency Response, when he arrived in the village of Vati on the island. “We’re doing our very small part, bringing up a bunch of sandwiches, cold fruit, cold water, and it’s been very well received. And hopefully it gives them that little bit of energy they need to protect their village.”
Island of Corfu
Northwestern Greece
Despite being five hundred miles north of Rhodes, wildfires were also sweeping through the island of Corfu. With multiple blazes to combat, firefighters were dispersed around the mountainous island. To reach them, our team had to hike in the scorching heat to deliver meals and cases of water. Eventually, we secured another mode of transportation: ATVs. Our team packed meals and water on ice in the trunks of the four-wheelers and delivered them directly to the firefighters, quickly and efficiently.
Volos
Mainland Greece
The city of Volos sits midway on the eastern coast of Greece’s mainland. When wildfires broke out around its outskirts, they caused an explosion at an air force munitions dump. The explosion shattered windows in nearby homes and forced 2,000 people to evacuate the area—some on buses and some on boats. The evacuees were brought to shelters in safer parts of the city, and WCK’s Relief Team was there to help them disembark and offer a comforting meal. We also made sure to have some meals saved to give to the local Volos volunteer coordinator, who was able to hand them out to his team as they came back from helping firefighters on the frontlines.
Island of Evia
Central Greece
WCK teams wanted to make sure the water and electrolyte drinks we were providing firefighters and residents were cold and refreshing—a challenge amid the historic heatwave. In southern Evia, George, a local hotel owner, jumped in to help. He offered our team the use of the hotel’s walk-in coolers and freezers where we could chill hundreds of cases of water. It was thanks to him that WCK was able to provide firefighters with the refreshing hydration they desperately needed.
The people fighting the fires
Most of the food and water WCK distributed went to people on the front lines of the fires. While planes dropped water from overhead, professional firefighters battled the flames day and night on the ground, taking shifts so some could sleep in the trucks while others continued to work. Local volunteers worked just as hard, using everything at their disposal to cut branches, chop trees, and dig trenches to hinder the fire’s progress. Residents also rigged improvised water trucks to put out the flames that threatened their towns and homes.
It is thanks to these efforts that the fires have finally been brought under control. As the flames subsided, our teams connected with the firefighters to ask about their next steps. In Volos, the Fire Chief told us that teams of firefighters will continue monitoring burned areas for at least two weeks after the fire subsides. Tree trunks, logs, and deep roots can continue smoldering, and if the right combination of hot temperatures and wind occur, the fire can flare to life again. By being vigilant, they can ensure that the fires they have put out, stay out.
Over the course of one week, WCK teams mobilized around Greece delivered nearly 8,000 meals. Because of the vastness of the impacted areas, each of our teams traveled dozens to hundreds of miles each day to reach the pockets of firefighters that needed meals and hydration.
Learn more about our #ChefsForGreece response here. For real-time updates, follow WCK on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can support our work by making a donation here.
