Hellenic Fire Service
The Hellenic Fire Service, or Pyrosvestiko Soma, is Greece’s national fire and rescue service. It operates under the Ministry for Citizen Protection and is based in Athens. It was formed in 1926 and later restructured as an independent national authority under the Interior Ministry. Its mission is to protect people and property by fighting fires, handling forest fires, responding to road crashes and other disasters, performing rescues, and providing prevention and public education. It also works with other security forces. Some officers work with Greece’s National Intelligence Service, and EMAK is the service’s heavy rescue unit; EMS is handled by EKAB.
Staff and volunteers: about 21,000 personnel, including roughly 11,470 full-time firefighters, 2,410 five-year-contract firefighters, 2,500 seasonal firefighters, and 3,573 volunteers.
Organization: 300 regional commands; stations classified A-D by size and danger; some stations serve ports and airports. Vehicles: about 2,500 firefighting vehicles (1,500 engines, 800 support, 200 special), 44 aircraft, 20 helicopters (5 house, 15 leased), and 10 vessels. The Hellenic Air Force helps with fixed-wing planes. The voluntary corps started in 1991 and now makes up about 17% of the workforce.
Training: Firefighting Academy in Kato Kifissia; the first firefighting school was established in 1936, with the Academy since 1968. Uniforms: blue turnout coats with silver helmets.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:20 (CET).