Δήμος Καισαριανής - Infrastructure Programmes

Voluntary team for the protection of the forest
Communication:
Telephone Number: 210 72.51.882
Fax: 210 72.51.883

D A S O S (FOREST)...... Source of life
The Aesthetic Bocage of Kessariani, as it is named, is an area with many benefits, such as its natural beauty, its special morphology, with many caves and an interesting fauna. The most vital benefit though is the fact that it has one of the most dynamic teams for Voluntary protection of the forest. This institution started in the summer of 1985 and continues successfully, till today.

The Voluntary protection of the forest of the Municipality of Kessariani notches up many interventions, confronting forest fires in the area of Hymettus and others.
But this success is based on a long and systematic work of infrastructure that is being made by the Committee, with full support of the Municipal Authority.

This systematic work includes the annual routine Volunteers' Training, in two units. Firstly the theoretical analysis of the matters, concerning the safe accomplishment of their mission, and secondly the practical exercise in the use of their equipment. It is strongly believed that an untrained volunteer is if not dangerous, mostly useless.

The goals of the Voluntary protection of the forest of the Municipality of Kessariani, apart from sensitization of the people, especially the youth, on their active participation to protect the forest, is the safeguard of Hymettus, to trace fire in time and announce it; this is done with daily shifts, at certain fixed points but also with car or pedestrian patrols at the streets and paths of the forest. Another important reason is to make a quick first encounter with the fire, which can be accomplished with our fire engine and the handy fire extinguishers. These are the first actions taken to confine the consequences of the fire, until the Fire Department arrives, for the full extinction. To accomplish our goals successfully and in safety, we have our last asset, for the first encounter with the fire, our Fire Engine, with 800 litters capacity, donated by the Municipality of Kessariani.

The foundation and soul of the Voluntary protection of the forest is of course the Volunteer himself. He can be distinguished for his love for the forest and his fellow being. His offer to the forest and to man comes disinterestedly from the reserves of his soul. Besides the strength of his soul, of course, he must also be well trained . He must be deft at using radio communication, and must know how to take the necessary self protection measures in case of a forest fire.

This can be all achieved by constantly training the members, annually, with the aid of the Fire Extinguishing Service of EKAV (National First Aid Centre ), which trains them in providing first aid, with help from the YIS (Geographical Military Service) that provides them with knowledge to read a map, radio communication from EER (Union of Greek Radio-amateurs) members and full help from the Municipality of Kessariani.