In the aftermath of the July 23, 2018 fires that killed 100 in Greece – blamed largely on unpreparedness – Massachusetts’ Worcester Polytechnic Institute partnered with the American Farm School in Thessaloniki to give Greek firefighters fire protection safety courses.

The week-long course was free of charge, courtesy of leadership and fundraising efforts by 1975 WPI grad Nick Kyriakos, said Worcester magazine.

“Although disaster relief has been plentiful for Greece, WPI’s interest in establishing education, training and research programs in fire and public safety for the country, motivated me to volunteer and seek support from our Greek American and Philhellene community,” said Kyriakos.

Greek firefighters, first responders and fire managers studied extreme fire behavior, wildland urban interface fire dynamics and impact, and firefighter entrapment in a course at the Hellenic Fire Academy in Kifissia, with hands-on field training.