Forest fires can be caused by both natural and human factors. During the summer of 2021 in Greece, over 2 million acres of forest burned in large fires caused by high temperatures and low humidity. This destroyed homes, killed many animals, and left some people homeless. Solutions proposed include hiring more forest rangers, enforcing strict penalties for arson, being careful with fire sources, and volunteering to help prevent and fight fires.

1. Forest Fires
3rd Primary School of Pallini/ Fani Karaoli
E Graders
etwinning 2021 - 2022

2. What is Forest fires?
Serious forest fires occur when a forest is
on fire for a long time, so a huge amount of
woods is destroyed.
Those fires are set in summertime when
the temperature is high.

3. Why is it happening?(1)
Forest fires are caused by natural causes as well as man made causes:
●Natural causes - Many forest fires may start from natural causes
such as lightning, which instantly set trees on fire. However, in this
case rain often extinguishes such fires without causing much more
damage.
On the other hand, high temperatures, dryness and low humidity, mostly
during summer time, often offer favorable circumstances for a fire to
start.

4. Why is it happening?(2)
Forest fires are caused by natural causes as well as man
made causes:
Man made causes - Human’s negligence, often becomes the main
cause for a forest fire. As it is well known, a fire can be easily
caused by discarded cigarette butts, or any other source of spark
or ignition, that comes in contact with inflammable material, such
as the dried leaves, we find in the woods. Finally, many forest
fires are purposely caused by local inhabitants, when they try to
use the forest for their own benefit, despite the harm that they
cause to the environment.

5. About Forest Fires During
this summer in Greece
This very sad and destructive fire lasted for many days during August
2021. We all hope this will never happen again.
So, if we consider all forest areas in Greece that were burned this year,
we may say that it was a huge curse as the acres that were burned was
not a few, 2.316.150!!!! YES REALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The fire caused poverty, with many people losing their homes and
temporarily settling down in other areas, death as many animals died
trying to escape, while some of them were searching for food. The
negligence of some people destroyed our precious forests, which give
us oxygen and make beautiful our planet, the Earth!

6. The problems that occurred in the summer are :
● Many houses were burned
● The environment was destroyed
● Most animals living in the forest lost their lives
● Some people are now homeless
● A large part of Greece’s beautiful forests is
destroyed
About forest fires during summers

7. Floods
Wildfires dramatically change landscape and
ground conditions, which can lead to
increased risk of flooding during heavy
rains because the burned ground is unable to
absorb the falling rain, producing runoff
conditions much like a parking lot.

8. Solutions ● First of all, the government must hire more rangers
in order to strengthen the National Forest
Protection Service.This way, woods will be more
protected.
● The penalties for incendie criminel must be really
strict.
● Also, every person can be helpful by calling
immediately the fire Department in case of a fire
starting.
● Finally, we ought to be very careful when we visit
forests and don’t use fire in any way.

9. Solutions
● Carefully extinguish smoking materials
● Obey local laws regarding open fires,
including campfires
● Keep all flammable objects away from
fire
● Have firefighting tools nearby and handy
● Carefully dispose of hot charcoal
● And last drown all fires
STOP FOREST FIRES!!!

11. Volunteers

12. Same problem in Cyprus (Ipsonas 1 Primary School,
Cyprus (P.Ktori)
Forest fires are a destructive phenomenon affecting many countries globally, including Cyprus. Every year,
during the summer period, forests are prone to forest fires and almost on a daily basis forest fires are among
the popular topics on the local media.
The key elements that affect the fire danger in Cyprus are: the Mediterranean climate of the island with a
prolonged hot and dry summer period and strong local winds, the vegetation characteristics such as the
ground cover density and fuel moisture and the topography; characterized by a rugged terrain and steep
slopes. Several other factors further increase the problem of forest fires, such as the accumulation of dry
biomass due to the decrease of rural population, increased human activities in forest areas and the lack of
preventive measures in private forest land.
by Petros Petsas

13. Students from Ipsonas 1 Primary School (P.Ktori)
recommend
1. This year you can plant more trees in your school and in your areas, your
house
2. Inform people about environmental issues that cause the high temperature
that cause fires more easily. If they know, they will probably be more
responsible. Let’s create posters together and share them in your community

14. Students from Primary School in Liszyno
1. It is a good idea for everybody to have something to stop small fires at home,
a fire extinguisher, a tap outside, a long hose so that they can react and help
even in a small way.
2. Maybe there could be patrols by volunteers to check forests and clean
rubbish, especially dangerous glass bottles that can cause fires when the sun
shines