'Land of Fires': Urbanization, the Economic Crisis and Forest Fires in a Mediterranean Region

The present study analyzes the spatial distribution and basic characteristics of 2,692 forest fires in Athens, the capital of Greece, along three recent phases of its urban expansion (2000-2003, 2004-2007 and 2008-2011). These time intervals represent different socioeconomic contexts (urban growth and economic development before Olympic games: 2000-2003; infrastructure development and settlement sprawl following Olympic games: 2004-2007; economic crisis and the decline of construction industry: 2008-2011). Athens was selected as a compact and mono-centric Mediterranean region grown through planned-deregulated expansion sometimes favored by forest fires. Results indicate that fire characteristics changed over time; while fire extension decreased significantly in rural areas following the decline in the construction industry, the reverse pattern was observed in peri-urban areas where sprawl processes are still active. Results suggest that the evolution in the temporal and spatial distribution of forest fires in Athens reflects the construction boom stimulated by Olympic games and the subsequent economic crisis.