Filenews 18 November 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou
A very serious situation has been prevailing in an area between Pegeia and Akoursos due to a fire that broke out and which threatens individual residences. The fire, although it started from a ravine at a distant point, quickly expanded and approached premises outside the core of the community, reaching up to their yards.
In the place rushed immediately strong ground forces of the Fire Brigade and the Department of Forests, under the operational responsibility of which is the point of manifestation of the fire, who make superhuman efforts to avoid damage to property in the first stage. Also on the spot are the two firefighting helicopters leased by the Republic, as well as the planes of the Department of Forests.
According to the spokesman of the Fire Brigade, Andreas Kettis, until the situation was brought under control, three houses were protected in which the flames had reached the courtyards, while now the fire has been limited to a single active front, considered essentially as fully controlled.
The outbreak of the fire in a ravine, far from an area of human activity, makes it clear to the competent authorities that it is a criminal act. The investigations will follow afterwards, however, they stressed, since at this stage it is important to prevent damage to people's property and to do as little damage as possible to the natural environment.
It is worth noting that although the contracts of the two Russian Kamov 32 firefighting helicopters have expired since the 15th of this year, however, the alarming situation prevailing in the last month due to the drought on the fire front prompted the officials to proceed to an agreement for the five-day renewal of the helicopters' contracts in order to extend their stay on the island.
