Fire victims in Attica: applications from Monday

A new timetable for the restoration of fire-affected areas in Western Attica and Boeotia was presented on Saturday, August 8 by Vice Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafadis. Speaking on ERT, he announced that flood-prevention and anti-erosion works in burned areas will begin in mid-September. These are considered critical works in preparation for the first autumn rains, as stripped soil does not retain water.

The most immediate component concerns allowances. From Monday, August 10, affected individuals can submit applications in their municipalities for the basic necessities allowance and the furniture allowance. The required documentation includes form E1, form E9 and a certificate of family status. If the file is complete, payment is made within ten days of submission, according to the vice minister.

On the state aid component, Mr. Katsafadis noted that compensation for home reconstruction or repair now covers 100% of costs, up from 70% and subsequently 80% that previously applied. Demolition of buildings designated as “red,” meaning uninhabitable, is fully borne by the state. In parallel, a rental allowance of 300 to 500 euros is provided depending on family size, for primary residences deemed yellow or red.

Inspections in Porto Germeno have been completed and recorded 79 red, 56 yellow and 57 green buildings. Property owners who were absent during the inspection can request a new inspection. The joint ministerial decision that will demarcate the affected areas is expected by August 20, while applications for reconstruction will open in early September. These details complement the initial findings from inspections.

For residents of Western Attica, the significance of the announcements is practical: they define exactly when they can move administratively and what documentation they will need to provide. Municipalities in the area are called upon to staff application reception offices during August, a period when services operate with reduced personnel. It has not been announced whether enhanced personnel support or extended service hours will be provided.

Several questions remain open. The total budget for the measures has not been clarified, nor the estimated number of beneficiaries. Also not announced is how cases of illegal or non-registered structures will be handled, an issue raised by residents in the first days after the fire. The government has not provided a timetable for compensation to businesses and agricultural operations.

The next milestone is the issuance of the joint ministerial decision on demarcation, which is a prerequisite for activating most measures. This is followed by the opening of reconstruction applications in early September and the start of flood-prevention works in mid-September. The announcements have not yet been incorporated into a published decision, and their final wording will be judged by documents published in the Government Gazette.