(Semadirek) Samothrace and Thassos to receive early fire detection systems in September
The islands of Samothrace and Thasos in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace will be equipped with new early fire detection and protection systems in September as part of Greece’s national “AIGIS” civil protection programme.
The two islands are included in the latest phase of a nationwide network designed to protect important archaeological sites, monuments and areas of significant cultural and environmental value from the threat of wildfires.
According to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Samothrace and Thasos are among eight locations scheduled to receive the systems in September, alongside Knossos, Delphi, Tatoi, Mount Athos, Souriza in Lavreotiki and Dodona.
Once this phase is completed, a total of 22 fire detection and protection systems are expected to be fully operational at archaeological sites and other areas of particular cultural and environmental importance across Greece.
How the new fire detection systems will work
The systems are designed to detect potential fires at an early stage and automatically send alerts to operational control centres.
The network combines thermal and optical cameras with 360-degree rotation capabilities, remotely operated cameras and digital mapping technology. This will allow operators to monitor protected areas in real time and receive precise information about the location of a potential fire.
The infrastructure will also include weather stations, regional and coordination control centres, as well as portable firefighting cannons at selected sites.
Eight systems already operational
The programme has already been implemented at eight locations: Mystras, Epidaurus, Mycenae, Dion, Platamonas, the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina, Peristeria in Messenia and Ancient Olympia.
The system installed at Mycenae has already been used during an actual wildfire. On July 31, it detected a fire near Fichtia in Argolis and automatically alerted the relevant coordination control centre.
Six additional systems are expected to become operational by the end of August, followed by eight more installations in September, including those planned for Samothrace and Thasos.
Technology to protect Greece’s cultural heritage
The project is being implemented under the AIGIS National Civil Protection Programme, with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
The initiative aims to use advanced monitoring and detection technologies to provide faster warnings and improve the protection of Greece’s archaeological heritage and environmentally sensitive areas from the growing risk of wildfires.
