9 OUT OF 10 FIRES ARE DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITY - THE FIRE BRIGADE RESPONDS TO 8,500 INCIDENTS A YEAR - Filenews 20/4
More than 90% of the fires that occur every year in Cyprus have human activity behind them, said on Monday the Chief Fire Marshal of the Fire Service, Nikos Longinos, during his greeting at the opening ceremony of the fire safety week, which is co-organized by the Fire Service and ERB Insurance.
In his own address, the CEO of ERB Insurance in Cyprus, Takis Phidias, noted that this fact indicates that the vast majority of fires can be prevented, underlining the importance of cooperation for prevention purposes.
Mr. Longinos also mentioned that each year the Fire Service responds to an average of about 8,500 calls for fires, of which 5,000 concern fires in the countryside and another 3,500 in urban areas, which may be caused by negligence, recklessness, deliberate burning, but also malicious or arson actions.
He noted that the fire safety week is the culmination of the Fire Service's effort to prevent, inform, raise awareness and educate citizens, to recognize the risks, but also to react correctly in the event of a fire. He said that the activities will culminate on April 25, with an event at Paphos Castle at 10:00 am, where there will be demonstrations and an exhibition of fire trucks and equipment.
As part of this week's actions, he added, the Fire and Rescue Service of the British Bases is also conducting a fire safety campaign, which will also participate in the event at Paphos Castle.
Mr. Longinos referred to the educational activities and programs offered to the staff of the Fire Service, so that it is constantly upgraded. He also noted that the force is being strengthened both in human resources and in modern equipment. "The continuous active support of the Ministry ensures the high level of readiness," he said. He also added that the design and construction works of the Unified Coordination Center of Fire Service Operations have been completed, which will strengthen operational coordination, as he said.
He underlined the contribution of volunteer firefighters and other volunteer groups. In addition, in the context of the event, three citizens who voluntarily contributed to the prevention and response to fires were awarded. Among them were Menelaos Christofides from Limassol, who made excavators and machinery available for free to extinguish the fire in mountainous Limassol in 2025, Savvas Savva from Tseri, who acts as a coordinator of fire watchers, and Panagiotis Isidorou from Livadia, Larnaca, an employee of the Game Fund, who freed tenants from a house in which he found a fire.
In his own address, the Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris, pointed out as an advantage the small size of the country, which allows the coordination of all services to a large extent. He added that coordination needs to be improved more, so that it can be done in the shortest possible time.
He then referred to the importance of actions that strengthen prevention and cooperation with society, noting that the organization of the fire safety week for 25 years also proves its success. "At a time when climate change is worsening conditions and increasing the frequency for the intensity of fires, prevention is not just an option, but a national need," he said.
He then stated that the effective response to fires is not only a matter for the state and the services, but everyone's responsibility. "Civil society has a crucial role, because part of responsible behaviour and cultivating a culture of prevention are the most powerful instruments we have," he said.
"With a plan, coordination and common will, we can shield our country against the dangers of the new era," the Minister concluded, congratulating the organizers of the fire safety week.
On behalf of ERB Insurance in Cyprus, its CEO, Takis Phidias, noted that the institution of the Fire Safety Week has proven its value and importance, responding to a real social need, which concerns prevention and information.
He added that the aim of this effort is to shape a safer, more informed and more responsible society. The General Manager of the company, Andreas Stylianou, noted, in turn, that the experience of fire incidents involving an insured person confirms how important knowledge and prevention are for fire safety.
As part of the event, it was announced that the company has delivered two firefighting simulation systems for training the members of the force, with a total value of €40,000, while the use of these systems was also demonstrated.
