The Fire Brigade is getting eyes from the air through volunteers, using drones to detect a fire in time, while technology through artificial intelligence is also thrown into the battle to prevent a disaster.
We spotted, yesterday, Friday, in Brussels, the Chief Fire Chief of the Fire Service and National Coordinator for the fires, Nikos Longinos, talking to the officials of the European Civil Protection Mechanism about what help can be sent in the event of a major fire incident in Cyprus. "I wanted to talk to them, see them up close and know first-hand what help we can expect in the event of a fire," he tells "F".
Actions to prevent fires, as he states, began in March with the mobilization of the communities and all the co-competent Departments. Already, the teams with the drones of the Fire Service have been mobilized, while a protocol has been prepared which will be sent to the Legal Service, so that in addition to the Fire Brigade and the Department of Forests, public or private organizations can be involved in the patrols, to help with the systems they have, in order to patrol from the air critical areas where fires are repeatedly observed, especially in Limassol and Paphos. Already, some have shown interest and those involved will apply, have security and a navigation license.
"In another action," noted Mr. Longinos, "cameras have been installed in areas of the countryside that cover a large part of it that we consider to be dangerous in terms of fire. Also, for the first time this year, we asked for quotes and we will have 12 chained vehicles loaded on trucks placed in strategic places that will carry GPS, so that when a big fire breaks out, they can be transported on the spot, since they can offer great help. At the same time, 400 volunteers who staff 11 teams went through classes so that when an incident breaks out, they will be sent a message, they answer us if they are available and where they are so that they can be given instructions on where to go."
An important weapon for better coordination is the recent operation of the Unified Coordination Center of the Fire Service (ESKEPY) through which if the citizen sees smoke and calls 112, then a link will be sent to him on his mobile phone and thus the Fire Brigade will have a live picture of the fire so that the corresponding firefighting forces can respond. Until today, the first vehicle had to go to the scene to see the situation and then other forces were sent, as a result of which valuable time was lost. In another effort to reduce the risk of a fire breaking out like last year in the area of mountainous Limassol, financial assistance has been given to "high-risk" communities to proceed with the cleaning of dry grass from plots and near roads. "Prevention, according to the European Civil Protection Mechanism, is now the priority area, because until now millions were given to the operational sector and prevention was left in second place," emphasizes the Chief Fire Marshal. According to him, if the chain of all the actions that need to be taken is broken, then the overall effort that is being made will be lost.
As for what is expected this year, the National Coordinator for the fires estimates that this year the weather has been favourable so far, we did not have the high temperatures early on and the rains that are still falling are helpful. "I should also note that for the first time we got the data from the Department of Meteorology where maps will show the winds, temperature and humidity per area and every two minutes new data will be given. It is estimated that this year we will have a very hot summer, we see what is happening in central Europe with so many high temperatures and we are taking our measures. No one can say that we will be ready, you don't mess with nature. Last year in Spain there were 120 planes in the sky and they had fires for three weeks. In France, an area the size of Paris was burned because we have extreme situations now," Mr. Longinos observes.
Fire Detection via AI
"This year we have 13 aircraft and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard for the management of these means. One of the 13 media is a new acquisition of the Republic and it is expected that three more will be acquired in a year with the prospect of buying five more. I do not hide from you that a proposal has been submitted to the Minister of the Interior to set up a committee to submit measures regarding the prevention of fires."
At the same time, he emphasizes, the tender for the installation of 13 fire detection points through AI in industrial areas has been awarded and this will also be done to cover a large part of the countryside, so that when a fire breaks out, an alarm will sound and there will be an immediate response.
