Filenews 26 March 2025 - by Vasos Vassilliou
Literally on the fifth day of the start of this year's fires, the Republic of Cyprus was currently left with two full-time firefighting aircraft and this was one of the main reasons why the Tender Review Authority rejected the postponement of the signing of a lease agreement for two firefighting helicopters, despite the pending appeals before it.
Two companies, which had submitted a bid and were excluded, asked the Review Authority not to approve the award of the contract and to wait for the outcome of the appeals, however, it was decided that by the time the whole scenario was clarified, it might be too late for forests and the environment in general.
From the whole process and the arguments developed by the state services before the Tender Review Authority, it follows that the weather cocktail created (drought, expected high temperatures, etc.) creates situations similar to those that preceded the major devastating fires in 2016 and 2021.
The Department of Forestry considers that the two aerial firefighting vehicles currently exclusively at the disposal of the Republic of Cyprus are not sufficient and that it is imperative that both helicopters for which a tender has been announced arrive quickly in Cyprus, so that the firefighting forces are ready. As for the other seven aircraft that are used from time to time, they are not at the disposal of the firefighting forces at all times, which could cause problems.
The Revision Authority, in its decision to reject the requests of the two companies (which were claiming the bid), also relied on reports from the Department of Forests and the Meteorological Service, through which they sent out a warning signal for upcoming disasters.
As stated in the decision of the Revision Authority, "the reports emphasize the forecast of particularly unfavourable climatic conditions, which, in combination with the intense drought, favour the explosion and spread of large and destructive fires even before the beginning of the summer season."
The Department of Forests, in a letter submitted to the Revision Committee, also records the following: "The ongoing drought, combined with the high temperatures that are expected to prevail, significantly intensifies the risk of fires. The lack of rainfall leads to dryness of the soil and the production of flammable vegetation, creating an environment where the slightest spark can cause large and intractable fires. In addition, high temperatures during the dry months further increase the risk of ignition."
The same letter records the necessity to acquire the two helicopters immediately, due to the fact that the adverse weather conditions that are expected increase the risk of the spread of large forest fires, citing as an example the devastating fires of Saitas in 2007, Solia in 2016 and Arakapas in 2021 where the same weather conditions prevailed.
Commenting on the position that "until the critical summer season of fires, the Department of Forestry will have at its disposal 11 aircraft for response in case of fire", the state side expressed its disagreement, noting that the companies that appealed to the Revision Authority, in the 11 helicopters, obviously include both helicopters which are not available at the moment and their delivery depended on the decision of the Revision Authority.
The government stressed that at the moment there are only 2 aircraft available to extinguish fires and therefore it is of immediate and primary need and wider public interest to ensure the protection of Cyprus from the risk of fires.
Furthermore, from the official side, "the need for operational readiness to deal with forest and other fires, to prevent the destruction of property, the natural environment and, above all, to avoid the danger to human lives" was indicated.
In the decision of the Revision Authority, which rejects the positions of the companies that objected to the signing of the contract, the suffocating timetable for the acquisition of the helicopters is invoked in view of the limited time remaining for the start of the summer season and the time of the steps required for the helicopters to be ready for use.
The decision also records the following: "We have also taken into account the risks posed by fires endangering, among other things, human lives, the natural wealth and the environment of Cyprus, which make the negative consequences that will result from the granting of the interim measures greater than the benefits if they are granted..."
"We also cannot ignore the significant economic costs that will arise for the Republic of Cyprus from possible disasters as a result of the fires as well as the incalculable ecological, environmental and social damage caused by large fires."
