Filenews 4 July 2024 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Within six months, the Fire Service responded to 355 cases of fires in illegal rubbish dumps, waste dumps, fields, open spaces, plots and even riverbeds as reported at the meeting of Parliament's Committee on the Environment.
Pambos Tylliros, on behalf of the Fire Service, said that the main reason they burn the garbage dumps is either to reduce the volume of waste, burn evidence, or even from self-ignition. The worrying thing, he said, is that this summer started in April and will last until October. In a war you will have casualties, he added, referring to the rubbish dump fire that was not immediately extinguished by firefighting forces. He added that those involved in fighting fires are physically and psychologically stressed.
At the meeting where the environmental impact of the operation of illegal rubbish dumps was examined, the Minister of the Environment was asked to respond to a series of other issues that concern public opinion lately as a result of the fires. First, the Minister presented the plan of six actions of the framework for the cleaning of illegal and uncontrolled waste disposal sites in Municipalities and Communities, where the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment starts funding the cleaning of points where there is systematic dumping of garbage.
He then responded to issues of public concern such as the issue of flying means, the reinforcement of firefighting forces, compensation for those affected and the problem of the uncontrolled throwing of fireworks.
Regarding the means of flight and the issue that arises with the tender process, the Minister said that now this role, which had as contracting authority of the Department of Forests, is being assumed by the Public Procurement Directorate of the General Accounting Office, following its own instructions.
The Minister said that 11 primary and 6 secondary aircraft are currently operational. He added that for the first time the Republic has at its disposal such a large number of flying means in quality and quantity of water they can carry. He explained that in 2006 and 2009 the first aircraft of the Republic were purchased, while from 2022 an effort began to buy three aircraft with the tenders not having been successful to date. He referred to the decision of the Council of Ministers to increase the fleet to 10 aircraft, as well as the decision to transfer the air firefighting unit from the Department of Forests to the National Guard.
Regarding those affected by the fires, the Minister pointed out that it has been decided to give an advance payment of 30% with a maximum amount of €25,000. He stressed that efforts were being made to speed up the timing of compensation payments.
The Minister also referred to the decision of the Council of Ministers to recruit within July 108 permanent hourly wages at the Department of Forests, based on the process underway for the recruitment of 18 forest firefighters. The new hires concern 60 forest firefighters, 8 operators of special type vehicles and 40 fire guards.
Asked to comment on the fire caused by fireworks, Maria Panagiotou referred to the decision to revoke all permits after the fire in Ha Potami for the purpose of reassessment. Now, he said, no permits are given for the use of fireworks when coastal areas are at risk, but only for use on cruise ships and beach hotels.
