Volunteer forest firefighters: from “heroes” to empowering and strengthening their role

Volunteer forest firefighters are not “heroes”; they are active members of local communities who, driven by a strong sense of responsibility, choose to protect nature and their fellow citizens. The "Support Programme for Volunteer Forest Firefighter Teams", implemented in two phases between 2022 and 2026 by NPF Desmos in collaboration with WWF Greece and HIGGS (Higher Incubator Giving Growth & Sustainability), empowered volunteers in practice.

At the front line of fire protection, volunteer forest firefighters across Greece demonstrate commitment and effectiveness year after year, making a significant contribution to the work of Civil Protection authorities. Despite their critical role, they had not consistently received the support they needed in previous years, while their demand for equipment remained substantial, as essential gear is heavily used and often damaged or destroyed during a challenging wildfire season.

As part of "Protovoulia 21" and with the support of the National Bank of Greece, the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation and the Athina I. Martinou Foundation, the Programme provided 2,888 volunteers from 71 volunteer forest firefighter teams across Greece with specialised firefighting equipment. Of these, 24 teams received equipment support during both cycles of the Programme. The evaluation and final selection process was conducted with transparency and clearly defined criteria, which have since become a benchmark for the assessment and support of volunteer teams by other organisations as well.

At the same time, 1,240 volunteer forest firefighters, along with representatives of local community organisations, enhanced their knowledge of wildfire prevention and management through the Programme’s experiential workshops.

The critical role of the teams’ ground-based firefighting units, both in suppressing wildfires and in securing and monitoring the fire perimeter, highlighted the need for practical, field-based training.

As a result, during the second cycle of the Programme (2024–2026), the training component was expanded to include experiential workshops, through which 476 volunteer forest firefighters received hands-on training in real-field conditions.

The Programme’s meaningful contribution became immediately evident, as all supported teams played a decisive role in responding to the devastating wildfires that affected Attica, Corinthia, Rhodes and Evros during the 2023 wildfire season, Attica in 2024, and Attica, Crete, Achaia, Preveza and Chios during the 2025 wildfire season.

At the same time, the Programme brought to the forefront of public discourse the challenges faced by volunteers and helped highlight the need for targeted support. For the first time, through the State’s new “Active Battle” law, the needs of volunteer forest firefighters received dedicated institutional support. The new framework provides for certified training and insurance coverage, the formal mobilisation of volunteers, financial support for equipment, and justified leave from work when participating in firefighting operations.

With the completion of this four-year Programme, training opportunities for volunteer forest firefighters are being further expanded.

More specifically, volunteer teams from across Greece will have access to EDUfires, an educational online hub that brings together knowledge, good practices and lessons learned from the operation of the volunteer wildfire prevention and response system.

In the coming months, EDUfires will be handed over to the Panhellenic Federation of Volunteer Forest Protection and Firefighting Orgaisations, which will undertake its operation and management.

The contribution of the Programme’s three supporters, amounting to almost €1 million, acted as a catalyst, mobilising an additional €500,000 from private initiatives and further expanding the positive impact of the initiative by supporting even more teams.

Emily Kern, General Manager of NPF Desmos, stated:

At Desmos, we firmly believe that the power of giving grows when it is united. This Programme was born out of our shared commitment to stand alongside those on the front line with respect and a sense of responsibility. The collaboration between the three donors and the three implementing organisations, under the auspices of Protovoulia 21, is living proof that when we join forces for the common good, we can achieve remarkable results. Together, we are strengthening our volunteers and safeguarding the future of our forests.

Elias Tziritis, Wildfires Actions Coordinator at WWF Greece, stated: 

After four years, we feel proud that, through the power of collaboration, a diverse group of organisations and donors joined forces to implement an innovative programme for our country—one that brought volunteer forest firefighters and their often overlooked needs to the forefront. Together, we achieved a great deal. While important steps still need to be taken for Greece to develop a fully functional volunteer Civil Protection system, we are pleased that a strong foundation has now been laid and has already led to the first positive changes we hoped to see.

Alexandra Emirza, Deputy Director of HIGGS, added:

Over the past four years, through our participation in the Programme, we have had the privilege of contributing to the training and empowerment of volunteer forest firefighters from every corner of the country. The long-standing collaboration between the three organisations stands as a powerful example of how partnerships can create real value for society.Through this collective effort, the Programme has strengthened the preparedness of volunteer teams and made a meaningful contribution to the resilience of local communities and the protection of the natural environment.

Watch the Programme overview video below: