Greece adds fire detection at Acropolis and sites

Greece will install modern fire-detection technology at major archaeological sites and monuments, including the Acropolis in Athens, to help protect them from annual wildfires, the Culture Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry said the system was tested in real conditions on July 31 at an ancient pre-Hellenic site in the Peloponnese. A fire there was immediately detected and triggered an automatic alert, it said.

The system uses data from thermal and optical cameras and sends information in real time to firefighters so they can assess the situation and respond.

Six systems are due to enter service by the end of August, including at the Acropolis, the Palace of Nestor and the monastery of Hosios Loukas. Eight more are planned for September.

The system is eventually expected to operate at 22 sites, alongside existing protection measures for Greece’s historical and cultural heritage.

Greece faces destructive wildfires every summer, often fanned by strong winds, with as many as 40 fires a day at the peak of the season.