Filenews 23 October 2021 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
The fire in Arakapas last July that reached Ora plus three other large fires catapulted to higher levels this year the scorched earth compared to last year, that if these did not exist we would have a mild year. The firefighting forces are slowly taking stock and although the fires as a whole are at about the same level as in 2020, nevertheless, the scorched earth is this year much larger and exceeds 80 sq. km.
According to a report by interior minister Nikos Nouris, submitted to the Council of Ministers on July 8th, during the fire that broke out in the Arakapas area and extended to Ora, 55 square kilometres of agricultural and forest land were burned. At the same time, in four other large fires were burned: six sq. km. during the fire in the community of Simos, almost 3 sq. km. during the fire in the area of Agia Marina of Xyliatos, while during the two fires that broke out in Pentalia within 15 days, 2.7 sq. km were burned. According to data from the Fire Brigade, 19 sq. km have been burned in fires that broke out in the countryside, while, according to the Department of Forests, this year until October we had 44.2 sq. km. that were burned in forest fires.
The month of May is the worst for the Fire Brigade as it is for the Department of Forests, since 1,128 fires broke out in the countryside and another 14 in forest areas. The characteristic of this year's fire season was the many fires that were set maliciously, mainly in the area of Paphos, or by negligence and recklessness. Also, for the first time, we had to such a large extent the use of drones in the prevention and supervision of fires, while a civilian arrest with unmanned aerial means was recorded, while it was set on fire in the countryside.
According to data cited to "F" by the spokesman of the Fire Brigade Andreas Kettis, until this month the Service responded to 6,036 fires, both in the countryside and in urban areas, compared to 7,203 that broke out last year during the same period. Of the 6,036 fires this year, 3,603 were in rural areas and the other 2,433 were in urban areas. Last year, 4,789 fires broke out in the countryside and another 2,414 fires broke out in urban areas.
According to Mr. Kettis, the fire season will continue until November because, as the weather situation evolves without rains, we will have fires until December. As far as the causes of the fires are concerned, according to the representative of the Fire Brigade, these concern 93% of human activity. This includes deliberate burning, scorching, burning garbage, negligence, use of tools near a forest area and arson. This year it has been observed that many fires mainly in the district of Pafos but also in the industrial area of Agios Sylas in Limassol were deliberately breaking out. Specifically, it seemed that when a fire started there were two or even three hearths, which referred to the work of arsonists.
According to the Fire Brigade, this year we have about 600 more fires in the countryside, while per month the following were recorded:
In January 636 fires, of which 354 in the countryside. In February, 475 fires were recorded, of which 293 were in the countryside, while in March the Fire Brigade responded to 566 fires of which 317 were in the countryside. In April we had 803 fires, 451 in the countryside, and in May the fires were launched after a total of 1,128 of which were recorded in the countryside. In June we had 593 fires including 367 in the countryside, while in July there were 516 fires, of which 313 were in the countryside. August was a mild month with 478 fires (306 in the countryside) and in September we had another 470 fires. October is one of the ugliest months as it is too hot with 700 fires last year and about 300 this year.
29 fires in a month in the same area
The Fire Brigade did not have time to extinguish fires in the area of Agios Silas in Limassol. From mid-September to mid-October, a total of 29 record fires were counted for an area. The Fire Brigade believes that they were all the work of malicious acts, since the hours and causes that broke out did not justify other activities. The Service with the mobilization of many forces managed to contain the flames so as not to spread to factories, while preventive measures are taken to catch the arsonists.
Also, in the area of Pafos, either from scorching or malicious, fires broke out daily, the largest ones in Simos and Pentalia. The Police have proceeded to the arrest of several persons in connection with fires, as well as for the huge dimensions in Arakapas. An increase in penalties for those who deliberately set fires in forest areas is also being studied.
