Filenews 23 March 2024
With eight aircraft and more than 800 forest firefighters, the Department of Forests will be thrown into the battle of fires this year, which expects to face a difficult and unpredictable situation due to climate change.
The tender for the lease of two plus two firefighting aircraft has already been announced, with the budget reaching €19.3 million and with a view to renewal by 2027. The two aircraft will be able to carry up to 3,000 liters of water and 60 liters of foam, while the other two will be a bit smaller since they will have to carry up to 2,500 liters of water and 60 liters of foam. Submissions end on April 15.
As the deputy director of the Department of Forests, Savvas Ezekiel, told "F", at the moment the two aircraft of the Department are inactive, since one is for maintenance in Israel and will be ready in early April, while for the second, its engine has been sent for repair and will be ready in mid-June. But there are two leased helicopters and two National Guard and Police helicopters. Efforts are also being made with Jordan to have two helicopters from that country stationed in Cyprus during the summer season. There are also the helicopters of the Bases that can be used in emergency cases.
According to Mr. Ezekiel, on the one hand the great climate change and on the other hand the wars, affected not only our region but also the northern countries, so they need flying firefighting means, which is why it is difficult to find them. Until we have permanent aircraft of our own, there will be a need for a lease, he said. Among our plans, he continued, is the purchase of one plane with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Plan and at the same time the purchase of two more from national resources. With the acquisition of our own means, the problems that arise every year with finding flying means for hire will be solved.
Regarding the new fire season that we are entering soon, the deputy director of the Department of Forests said that they expect to face a difficult situation. On the one hand the high temperatures due to climate change and on the other hand the fact that everything has started to dry out, we expect an unpredictable situation which always depends on weather conditions. As the Department of Forests, he added, we are always prepared to deal with any situation with or without the new aircraft. Let us not forget that we have not always had flying means as a democracy. The state has provided us with a very satisfactory number of vehicles and personnel to deal with the fires. We are talking, Ezekiel noted, about a volume of 800-900 personnel who will be thrown into the battle to deal with any fire.
Regarding the recent decision at the Presidential Palace to transfer all flying firefighting means to the Ministry of Defense, the hon. The director of the Department of Forests stressed that it is respected, will be supported and will be expected to be implemented. A transition period is needed so that we can get through this new fire year and everything will be considered on time.
He asked for the help of citizens to be very careful during their activities in the countryside to facilitate the work of forest firefighters.
Tougher penalties for lighting fires are coming
At the meeting at the Presidential Palace on 12 March under the chairmanship of Nikos Christodoulides, it was decided:
> The submission of a proposal by the Ministry of Interior by the end of the year to the Council of Ministers for the upgrading of Civil Defence to a Civil Protection Service.
> The submission of a plan and proposal by the Ministry of Defence for the gradual integration of the Forest Firefighting Flying Equipment Unit into the National Guard.
> The reopening of the Forest College from 1/1/2025.
> In the context of the implementation of the 2nd phase of a holistic civil protection system, the installation of additional sensors for early detection of fires.
> The gradual acquisition by the state of 10 firefighting aircraft within the next five years.
> the end of March, the amending bills concerning the tightening of penalties will be completed and submitted to the Legal Service.
> Clearing of wild grass by provincial administrations until the end of May.
> Submission of a proposal by the Ministry of Interior for the utilization, training and insurance of volunteers.
