In the last twenty years, approximately 10,000 wildfires occur every year in Greece and burn an average of 534,121 hectares. A forest fire has serious immediate effects and can cause severe damage to agricultural income, human property and infrastructure, has a severe economic cost to suppress it and can result in loss of human life. Over time, it can lead to permanent loss of vegetation, soil erosion and ultimately increased flooding and desertification. The unprecedented fires, which took place at the beginning of August 2021 and caused enormous destruction in their wake, made it imperative, among other things, for the immediate utilization of as many firefighting means and related equipment as possible, in order to stop their unprecedented spread. From the first moment that the magnitude of the disaster began to be seen, MYTILINEOS immediately decided to help in the most appropriate way. In collaboration with the Political Leadership and the Secretariat of Civil Protection, it was decided to try to find and transport firefighting helicopters, which the Fire Service needed more. Specifically, the Company strengthened the air fleet by granting to the Greek State for 60 days 4 high-quality BELL 214BI helicopters of the American company Erickson Inc, fully staffed with flying staff and support staff consisting of more than 20 pilots, engineers and translators, joining forces with the Greek firefighters, proving in practice her sensitivity both for the state and for the needs of her fellow citizens.
