Filenews 24 August 2024
New measures are promoted by the Fire Service regarding fires, both for better coordination and to investigate the causes of fires.
Unfolding to "F" the plans of the Fire Brigade, Chief Marshal Nikos Longinos mentions that for the first time a special team is being set up to investigate the causes of fire, while at the same time a Unified Coordination Center of Operations is being created at the Headquarters of the Service, for 112.
As Mr. Longinos mentioned, there was a need to set up a specialized department that will investigate the causes of fires when it comes to major incidents, either in urban areas or in the countryside, that is, to be examined by specialists, so that prevention measures can be taken depending on the causes. Until now, he said, this department did not exist and it was considered appropriate to set it up to thoroughly investigate the causes of a fire in order to know the cause and accordingly to turn the investigations accordingly. As the Chief Marshal explained, in many cases there was doubt about the causes of a fire, as with the EAC, so we want to have a thorough opinion on every serious incident.
At the same time, the Fire Brigade is moving to another important level that will improve the coordination of all involved services for serious incidents that occur in our country. For this purpose, a Unified Coordinating Operations Center is being created at the Fire Brigade Headquarters, which will house all the services related to 112 (Police, Fire Brigade, Civil Defense, National Guard, Ambulance Service, Department of Forests). As soon as information is given about a fire or other serious incident, the nearest fire station will be immediately informed so that it responds in time, the location of the fire will be given and at the same time the means of fire extinguishing will be monitored. Through this Center, Mr. Longinos explained, all actions will be coordinated when it concerns other serious events, so as not to observe what is happening today with 112.
Regarding the purchase of equipment for the early detection of a fire before it spreads and becomes uncontrollable, the Chief Marshal told us that the purchase of 17 fire detection sensors is proceeding in early '25, which will be installed in industrial areas, the countryside and in forest areas. In industrial areas each sensor will cover an area of up to 15km and in the countryside 30km. It is estimated that in this way, 80% of forests and countryside will be covered, so as soon as smoke or fire is detected, there will be an immediate reaction. The cost of these devices, which will be state-of-the-art, will amount to €6 million. and the envelope has been approved.
At the same time, the Fire Brigade proceeds with the announcement of tenders for the purchase of 21 modern fire trucks for salvage, firefighting and use in industrial zones. They will be technology vehicles and will enable them to be used for specialized purposes depending on where they will be placed.
Among the plans is the purchase of special equipment for the evacuation of people from earthquakes, so that it can be given to all districts. There is already an approved amount of €1.1 million from European funds, which will be used for the purchase of this equipment, which will free the hands of the district directorates. As the Fire Brigade officer mentioned, today only the EMAK has such equipment and in case of an incident the arrival of its members should be expected, while by providing equipment to the provinces, valuable time will be saved.
Expert study
Regarding the issue of the separation of the area of responsibility for fires, Mr. Longinos stressed that a study is currently being prepared by a Greek expert on whether it is appropriate for responsibility for rural fires to pass from the Fire Brigade to the Department of Forests. The study will have to be handed over next October to the Minister of Agriculture, discussed and decided. This year there has been a 7% increase in incidents in cities, mainly in terms of rescues of trapped people from road collisions and garbage dump fires. A significant increase is observed in calls to open doors with the detection of people who are dead for various reasons.
Four months have seen an increase in fires this year
An overall decrease of 35% is observed this year in fires, which is attributed to the timely response by firefighting forces. However, prolonged high temperatures and human activities have brought an increase in incidents this year in 4 out of 12 months. Arson is of particular concern to those responsible since it is clear that arsonists are behind specific fires in Limassol and Paphos.
Typical is the case of the community of Pachna in Paphos, where it is often observed that fires break out due to malicious action. The community authorities decided to take measures, including by installing cameras.
According to data from the Fire Service, this year it responded to 4,326 incidents compared to 6,649 in the whole year last year, while for four of the eight months of the year there was an increase. In January last year there were 439 fires compared to 1426 this year, in February this year there were 445 fires compared to 401 last year. The upward trend continued in March, when 664 fires were observed compared to 635 in '23. In April there was a decrease since this year we had 789 fires while in '23 869.
An increase in fires was also recorded in May and June compared to last year. Specifically, from the 558 fire incidents that the Fire Brigade responded to last May, this year they reached 801, an increase of 43.5%, as in June, since from 483 fire incidents last year, this year there were 524. In July this year there is a decrease in fires. From 576 last year, we had 427, or a decrease of 19%. In August, so far, we have had 250 fires this year, while last year all month 392.
Critical months are considered to be September and especially October, when the scorching begins. So the vigilance will continue. This year, the Department of Forests recorded 114 forest fires, the same level as last year.
First place in Nicosia
The first district in fires is Nicosia with 1512, followed by Limassol with 1122 and third is Paphos with 634 incidents. Larnaka is fourth with 556 fires and Famagusta with 303. EMAK responded to 122 incidents. The extent of damage from fires within urban areas and in the countryside is estimated by the Fire Brigade at €18,990,855. The burnt area is estimated at 13,492 sq.km. and the forest area at 4,252 sq.km.
This year saw a record number of arrests of arsonists or people who negligently set fires. It has also been found that this year many fires break out from illegal rubbish dumps, because citizens burn objects in order to get the iron to sell.
