Three drones to contribute to the fight against fires in our region

During a press conference held at noon on Monday, July 22, 2024, at the premises of the Presidency of the Province of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the President of the Province Christodoulos Topsidis informed about the fires in the region and stated that in the future drones will be in charge of preventing fires.

"Our priority is the equipment of the civil protection service and for this reason, 10 million euros will be spent from ESPA," said Topsidis, adding that an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) system will be deployed in the region. One of the unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) will be deployed in the Evros region.

It will be based at the Paraskevoudi Military Barracks near Büyük Derbent.The second drone will operate in the borders of Rhodope Province. Its center will be Hemetli Minority Primary School in Kozlukebir Municipality. 

The third drone will operate within the borders of Kavala Prefecture and will be based at the Castle in Thassos Island. Topographical and weather information regarding fires will be obtained through the drones. 

The drone system will contribute to better decision-making to deal with any incident. 

The press conference on the implementation of the drone system was attended by the President of the Region, Christodoulos Topsidis, as well as the Vice President of the Region, Emanuil Tapazas, the Head of the EMT Region Civil Protection Directorate, Konstantinos Hovardas, and the Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications of Zithopiia Macedonia - Thrace Factory - Thrace, Nikos Bilios.

The costs for the use of two of the drones will be covered by the Presidency of the Province of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, while the cost of the third drone will be covered by the sponsor, Zithopiia Macedonia - Thrace Factory.