Akis Skertsos, Greece's Minister of State, said firefighters, pilots and civil protection workers had fought with everything they had to save lives, property and forests in the country's recent wildfires, according to a post he published on 7 August 2026.
Skertsos said state officials, fire brigade personnel and specialized civil protection professionals had risked their own lives for public safety during the fires. He said no civilian lives had been lost, but that firefighters and pilots had been.
He said respect and gratitude were owed to what he called everyday heroes who selflessly and bravely put "we" before "I" every day, adding that they inspired and moved people deeply.
Prevention and the memory of Mati
Skertsos said the state Greece needs and wants is one that cares for its citizens, works to prevent disasters and puts itself on the front line to protect human life. He said this was the only way to continually reduce the risk of repeating national tragedies such as the one at Mati, where he said the importance of protecting human life had been shown in the most painful way.
He offered his sincere condolences to the Fire Service and to the families of every firefighter and every aircraft operator lost in the previous week.
Skertsos said the greatest honor to their memory was to never stop investing in prevention, training, personnel and the resources of civil protection. He said the climate crisis was making every summer harder, and that it was the country's own responsibility to become better every year.
