Filenews 5 August 2025 - by Michalis Hatzivasilis
The Chief of Police calls for the revision of the "Torch" Plan in his own Event Report, while at the same time he recommends that persons who do not have a role in extinguishing fires or with crisis management should not be allowed to go to the promoted Command Station and that the briefing should be made by a single spokesperson, who will be predetermined and represent all services.
The report by Themistos Arnaoutis also reveals the following curious fact: While at 14.03 due to the expansion of the fire, the implementation of the "Ikaros 2" Plan was requested, the Chief mentions that "at 14:00, the District Officer of Limassol Fire Stations informed the Assistant Police Director (E) of Limassol that there was a fire of limited extent in the area of the village of Malia that was heading towards the residential area Malias and asked for the roads of Arsos, Malia and Omodos to be cut off. The Police immediately responded to both calls."
However, in the Report of the Chief Fire Officer it is stated that "at 13.57 the District Manager of Limassol Fire Stations contacted the Limassol Fire Station Commander Lefteris Kyriakou to send additional forces to the area". The two reports also raise serious questions about coordination.
It is noteworthy that from 13.28 when the message about the fire was received, at 16.50 the assistance of the Police aircraft was requested.
The Chief refers to the efforts of the police officers to help in the evacuation of villages and to the two victims who were found burned as well as to the injured and concludes: From the very first moment, the Police took all the necessary measures to secure the scenes of the fire by cutting off roads and ensuring access for the fire trucks, the involved Services/Departments extinguishing the fire, while in cooperation with the other Services, it helped in the protection of citizens as well as in the evacuation of villages, monasteries and camping sites.
