Filenews 9 November 2021 - by Angelos Nikolaou
The latest figures with the fires within the Akamas National Forest Park, all of which are due to a human factor, are alarming. In the last 17 days, from 22/10/2021 until 7/11/2021, the recorded fires reached 10. Specifically, a fire was set maliciously in the areas of Inia, Fasli, Drousia, Pegeia, Kato Arodes, Androlikos and Pittokopos.
In an effort to deal with the incidents of malicious and deliberate fires, it has been decided to take additional measures for fire protection by the Department of Forests. Additional measures are being taken to deal with any malicious fires in the Akamas Peninsula due to reactions to the non-satisfaction of requests in the context of the preparation of the local Akamas plan. Possible causes examined for the latest fires include livestock breeders, hunters and farmers. Therefore, any additional measures taken will help in this direction as well.
It is noted that the measures taken in the previous two years have resulted in a reduction in the number of malicious fires. The latest incidents show, however, that additional measures are needed and in this direction the cooperation of the Police is also required, in order to carry out a patrol within the national park and according to information already the Minister of Agriculture has contacted the Minister of Justice asking for the assistance of the Police. In addition, a decree is expected to be issued to control the movement within the park. Through this ordinance, public vehicles will be prohibited from passing through on certain forest roads within the park.
The Department of Forests is reportedly concerned that cunning people are taking advantage of hunting days in order to act and cause malicious fires. For this purpose, for the hunting days, the assistance of the Game Service was further requested, so as not to make easy the task of those who wish to cause damage to the forest.
The Department of Forests decided to carry out daily additional patrols in specific areas where there are private interests until late in the afternoon. These patrols concern the areas of Toxeftras, Loutra – Fontana and Lara.
In addition, the contribution of the Search and Rescue Coordination Center through a long-range mobile thermal camera system is considered important. For immediate response to fire incidents and their immediate extinguishing, the additional measures include the re-stationing of two planes at the Base of Paphos. These planes will also carry out patrols. It was also decided to increase the number of cameras to monitor the entrances of the Akamas.
In the battle of prevention, it was decided to use the drones of the National Guard, as well as the drones of the Cyprus Institute. It is noted that volunteers were offered to help with the increased surveillance, while a volunteer will also assist in the whole effort with his helicopter (gyrocopter).
In addition to the daily schedule, there will also be a nightly schedule with the alert of forest officials, while a large fire truck will be put on alert in Lara, as well as the manning of observatories.
It is noted that already in some areas there are placed at night large firefighting vehicles and manning of fire guards. In the existing measures, forest firefighters and vehicles are on standby in specific areas, while patrols are carried out in the forests of Pyknti and Meletis, in the forests of Smyies – Pyrgos and in other areas.
The fires of the last few days
1) On Friday, October 22, 2021, between 16:30 and 17:35, a fire broke out in an area of the community of Inia, which burned four hectares of bushes and other low wild vegetation. 12 people of the Department of Forests worked to extinguish it with four fire trucks. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
2) On Saturday, October 23, 2021, between 12:00 and 12:50, a fire broke out in an area of the Community of Fasli, which burned four tons of weeds. Three people from the Department of Forests worked to extinguish the fire with a fire truck. The fire was caused by agricultural activities (scorching).
3) On Saturday, October 23, 2021, at 16:15, a fire broke out in an area of the community of Drousia. Thanks to the immediate actions of the Department of Forests, the fire was brought under complete control immediately. Five people of the Department of Forests worked to extinguish the fire with two fire trucks. The fire was caused by agricultural activities (scorching).
4) On Thursday, October 28, 2021, between 09:50 and 10:10, a fire broke out in an area of the community of Inia, which burned a tenth of wild vegetation. Four people of the Department of Forests worked to extinguish the fire with a fire truck. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
5) On Thursday, October 28, 2021, between 13:50 and 14:45, a fire broke out in an area of the community of Inia, which burned two tons of reed beds and other wild vegetation. Three people from the Department of Forests worked to extinguish the fire with a fire truck. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
6) On Saturday, October 30, 2021, between 06:00 and 07:30, a fire broke out in an area of the municipality of Pegeia, which burned two tons of pine trees, carob trees and low wild vegetation. Three people from the Department of Forests worked to extinguish the fire with a fire truck and two people from the Fire Brigade with a fire truck. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
7) On Sunday, October 31, 2021, between 14:35 and 15:00, a fire broke out in an area between the communities of Inia and Kato Arondes, which burned three tons covered with weed and wild vegetation. Three people of the Department of Forests attempted to extinguish it with a fire truck. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
8) On Monday, November 1, 2021, between 11:10 and 13:50, a fire broke out in an area between the communities of Androliko, Fasli and Pittokopos, which burned 15 hectares of low wild vegetation. To extinguish the fire attempted 24 people of the Department of Forests with seven fire trucks, four people of the Fire Brigade with two fire trucks, two people of the Community Council of Neo Chorio with a fire truck, two dozers of land and volunteers. The operations were assisted by a total of five aircraft, namely an aircraft of the Department of Forests, two leased aircraft of the Department of Forests, a helicopter of the National Guard and a helicopter of the Cyprus Police. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
9) On Friday, November 5, 2021, between 16:30 and 17:05, a fire broke out in an area of the Community of Androliko, which burned two tons of wild vegetation. Three people of the Department of Forests attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire truck. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
10) On Sunday, November 7, 2021, between 10:50 and 11:05, a fire broke out in an area of the Community of Inia, which was brought under complete control before it was extended, thanks to the timely intervention of forest firefighting forces. Five people of the Department of Forests worked to extinguish it with two fire trucks. The causes of the fire are being investigated.
