Apostolos Tomaras
The military activity believed to have sparked Monday's devastating wildfire near Kalo Chorio was reportedly part of a planned National Guard training exercise conducted in cooperation with the United States, according to information emerging as the investigation continues.
As authorities continue investigating the blaze, which broke out at the Kalo Chorio firing range and threatened nearby communities, new details have emerged about the National Guard unit involved in the exercise.
Questions have been raised over how much the National Guard General Staff (GEEF) knew about the activity and at what level it was approved. According to unofficial sources, the exercise had been scheduled in advance and approved by GEEF, although it has not been specified which department granted the authorization.
The same sources said the activity involved the destruction of a small number of munitions as part of a planned training exercise with a partner country.
According to journalistic information available to Kathimerini, that partner country was the United States. However, no further details have been provided on whether the exercise formed part of the National Guard's new framework of defense cooperation with the US.
Move to ease tensions
Meanwhile, as authorities await the official report into the incident, Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas has convened a meeting at the Ministry of Defence with community leaders and other representatives from areas surrounding the Kalo Chorio firing range.
The meeting aims to ease tensions with local communities while allowing both sides to exchange views on how to prevent similar incidents linked to activities at the firing range in the future.
Military sources maintain that communities near the firing range had been notified in advance of last Monday's training exercise, in accordance with the National Guard's protocols for activities of this nature.
