Hellenic Fire Service
The Hellenic Fire Service is the national agency of Greece for fire and rescue service. It is part of the Ministry for Citizen Protection.
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 was formed in Athens, as part of the Greek Army, expanded in 1861 into a two-company mixed sapper and firemen formation. 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.Organization
- The central body is located in Athens
- Regional Fire Services Administration
- Fire station of four grades throughout the country
- Smaller fire stations, plus voluntary fire stations and voluntary klimakia
- Special Units for disasters
- Special services:
- # Firefighting Academy
- # Coordinating Center
- # General Warehouse Material
- # Confrontation of arson crimes
Voluntary Corps
Equipment
Since the 1930s, the Fire Service has used more than 3,500 vehicles. Today it owns about 2,500 trucks and cars, 44 firefighting aircraft, 20 helicopters and 10 firefighting vessels.Training
The training takes place at the Firefighting Academy which is located in Kato Kifissia with an annex at Villia Attikis. The first "Firefighting School" was established in 1936 at Sarri Street 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 | Sergeant | Senior Firefighter | Firefighter |
| Greek Title | Πυρονόμος | Αρχιπυροσβέστης Παραγωγικής Σχολής | Αρχιπυροσβέστης Μη Παραγωγικής Σχολής | Πυροσβέστης |
| Insignia |