ENVIRONMENT

Seasonal firefighters face housing crisis

Tourism boom means they can’t afford accommodation on islands they’re assigned to protect

Seasonal firefighters face housing crisis

Seasonal firefighters protecting Greece’s islands from wildfires are sleeping in tents at campsites, unable to afford housing that tourism has priced beyond their reach.

“Our salary is 900 to 950 euros and they ask for up to €600 for accommodation – that’s if we find any, since they’ve all gone to tourist platforms,” says the vice president of the Panhellenic Association of Contract Firefighters, Akis Bardakis.

The housing shortage is creating gaps in fire protection. On Skiathos island, only nine of 14 seasonal firefighter positions are filled, according to union complaints.

Seasonal firefighters earn €900-950 monthly but face rental costs of €600-800 for properties often measuring just 35-40 square meters. Many have been converted to short-term tourist rentals.

“In some islands, colleagues find miserable houses and have to share with one or two others. Elsewhere, it’s been noted that they stay in tents at campsites! How can they possibly fight fires without proper rest?” says Bardakis. “In the case of Kea, it’s been known for seasonal firefighters from Attica to cross by boat for their shifts and then go back home.”

Greece employs 2,500 seasonal firefighters among its total Fire Service of approximately 18,000 personnel. They work eight-month contracts from April through November, though delays pushed start dates to early May – coinciding with the start of peak tourism season.

The union blames local authorities for the accommodation shortage. “By law, they are responsible for the living conditions of various special professionals that offer services in their area  on an extraordinary basis, like firefighters, teachers and police,” says Bardakis.

Kostas Demenagas, the deputy mayor of Kea responsible for civil protection, acknowledges the crisis. “Someone would be lucky to find accommodation for less than 400 euros in current conditions,” he says.

Kea Municipality operates a guest house with five rooms: two for police trainees, two for seasonal firefighters and one for municipal guests. The island currently has only one of three positions filled.

“Municipalities need to look at this problem. Decent accommodation must be secured. There are old military camps or other public buildings, hotels, houses – a solution must be found for all employees who go to the islands,” says Thanos Psaropoulos, president of the Panhellenic Association of Contract Firefighters.

“We cannot go to an area that’s very far from home, risk our lives and have them make us sleep in caves,” adds Bardakis.

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