Hellenic Fire Service

Motto: ΘΑΡΣΕΙΝ ΣΩΖΕΙΝ (be brave and save) The Hellenic Fire Service (Greek: Πυροσβεστικό Σώμα) is the national agency of Greece for fire and rescue service. It is part of the Ministry for Citizen Protection. In 1833, with the establishment of the Greek Kingdom, the fire responsibility was given to the individual prefectures and municipalities. In 1854 a Firemen Company (Λόχος Πυροσβεστών) was formed in Athens, as part of the Greek Army, expanded in 1861 into a two-company mixed sapper and firemen formation (Διλοχία Σκαπανέων και Πυροσβεστών). It was not until 1914 that the corps, now again known as Firemen Company and still under military control, was expanded to other cities outside Athens, covering also Thessaloniki, Patras and Piraeus.