"Smart Forest" in Hymettus spots fire immediately and blaze is vanquished

For decades, Hymettus was one of the most vulnerable green lungs of Attica. Every summer, the residents of the areas surrounding it lived in fear of the next big fire, knowing that a few minutes are enough for a small fire to turn into an uncontrollable disaster. Today, however, the picture is changing.

The mountain range that embraces the Basin has been transformed into one of the most modern examples of a “smart forest” in Greece, with artificial intelligence now taking on the role of a digital firefighter, monitoring the mountain every second of the day.

“Smart Hymettus”
The Hymettus Protection and Development Association (SPAY), an organization with a history of 34 years, has systematically invested in a new model of prevention and forest protection for the past six years. “Smart” Hymettus, as those involved in the project now call it, operates by combining cutting-edge technologies, thermal cameras, artificial intelligence systems, surveillance drones and a modern Crisis Management Center that monitors every corner of the mountain in real time.

How decisive this mechanism can prove to be was shown on the evening of Monday, June 8, when a small fire broke out above the Lavra stadium, on the borders of the Municipalities of Hellinikon - Argyroupoli and Ilioupoli.

Shortly before 10 pm, a small fire appeared in the forest area. Under other circumstances, its development would depend on when a resident saw the smoke or when a patrol would perceive the threat. This time, however, the fire was detected almost at the moment it was born.

The thermal camera system installed in Hymettus immediately recorded the suspicious temperature change.

The information was transferred in real time to the Crisis Management Center of the municipality of Argyroupoli-Elliniko, where special software and artificial intelligence applications assessed the event and confirmed that it was a real fire.

The integrated civil protection system that was gradually built in recent years at the initiative of the Mayor of Helliniko-Argyroupoli, Yiannis Konstantatos, after the devastating fire of 2015 in Hymettus, was operational in almost zero time.

Within seconds, the entire surveillance and intervention mechanism was activated.

The mobilization was immediate. Two fire engines and a water tanker from the Municipality of Elliniko - Argyroupoli headed to the scene, while the Fire Department, the volunteer forest protection groups, the Civil Protection and the Fire Department were notified. The result was impressive. Within less than three minutes of the detection of the first flame, the fire had already been contained, before it had a front and before it had time to spread.