FIRE SERVICE - IN FULL READINESS FOR THE SUMMER - COUNTRYSIDE, PATROLS AND AERIAL MEANS TO EXTILNGUISH FIRES ARE BEING STRENGTHENED - Filenews 22/4
The number of fires in recent years has been quite increased and should definitely be reduced, said the Chief Fire Marshal of the Fire Service and National Fire Coordinator, Nikos Longinos, in his statements, adding that they will strengthen the countryside with more means this year "to have a quick update and response to extinguish the fires", as he mentioned.
He stressed that all the competent services are on alert and will continue to be throughout the summer season.
Regarding the means of flight, which Cyprus has at its disposal, Mr. Longinos said that "today we have 10 aircraft", noting that "we have 4 helicopters and 4 planes located at Paphos airport, we have 2 Jordanian ones, which have entered operational readiness, and we expect by May 1 another 3 aircraft" of which two planes will be stationed in Akrotiri and one in Larnaca.
"So, we will have a total of 13 aircraft and at the same time the British Bases have brought 2 helicopters and have informed us that one helicopter is in constant readiness, it can help us at any time, and if necessary, the second helicopter will be put into operational readiness," he added.
Asked about the readiness of the services in view of the summer season, Mr. Longinos said that the national coordination continues every day.
"We are in contact with all the relevant services so that we can be ready to deal with any incident, to reduce the chances of saying it better, and if the incident happens to be able to respond in coordination to be able to extinguish the fire. It is precisely for this reason that I am at Paphos airport today. I had a contact with the crews of the aircraft, helicopters and planes, to talk to them and raise the preparedness more," he added.
He pointed out that the summer season is approaching, "so the temperatures are rising and the fires will definitely start".
"We have done the same thing together with the Director of the Forestry Department last week, we had visited Larnaca airport and I had spoken with the Director of the Air Firefighting Squadron precisely for this reason. In addition, meetings continue with the District Administrations, with the volunteer groups, with the communities where we talk together with the Community Presidents, we indicate to them what means they should take to make fire lanes, to clean grass, to check the water spouts and in general we try in every way every day to be ready to deal with the incidents that will definitely happen", he noted.
Asked about the mountainous areas and whether the measures and patrols will be increased, Mr. Longinos said that the rural stations are on standby.
"We have been reinforced with another 60 new Firefighters, forest firefighters, who are currently being trained and we will strengthen the patrols, the observatories. The Department of Forests has proceeded with the cleaning of the fire lanes. The fire hydrants, the tanks of the Department of Forests are being checked. We are talking together with the volunteer groups and patrols will be determined, which volunteer groups will help us to supervise the area," he added.
He said, at the same time, that they have their own teams of Drones, which they are already using.
"We are also preparing to use teams of private individuals, who want to help with patrols and information in case of smoke or fire. So, we will strengthen the countryside with more means this year to have a quick update and response to extinguish the fires," he noted.
Answering a question about the issue of fires in garbage dumps and discarded waste materials, Mr. Longinos said that it is an issue that concerns them.
"Unfortunately, their number is increasing instead of decreasing. As soon as we detect such a fire, the Department of Environment is informed, which immediately sends an Officer, talks together with the responsible Municipalities or Communities to clean these garbage dumps. But, yes, it is an issue that concerns us because unfortunately many of our fellow citizens choose areas that are isolated to throw away their waste materials and for many different reasons fires start in these places, where it is very easy for a fire to spread due to the morphology, due to the vegetation", he added.
He noted that this year, especially due to the rainfall that has occurred, the vegetation is greatly increased, so the risk of the fire starting and spreading is very high.
"So we want to send a message to our fellow citizens: Keep in mind that any tools they use, which produce a spark, especially during the period when temperatures are elevated, there is wind intensity, then there is a serious possibility of a fire starting and you realize that if it spreads under conditions that favour its expansion, it will be extremely difficult to extinguish such a fire," he added.
Wanting to send his own message, Mr. Longinos said that the number of fires in recent years has been quite increased and should definitely be reduced.
"A fire cannot start where there are winds or the vegetation and morphology are such. We want to inform our fellow citizens to help us in this area and in case they see smoke or fire, immediately inform 112 so that we can respond and extinguish the fire before it spreads. Beyond that, all the competent services are on alert and we will continue to be there throughout the summer season to deal with such incidents," he concluded.
CNA
