Providing a solution to a long-standing priority of the Fire Service, the government decided for this year's fire season to significantly strengthen the operational readiness of the fire brigades.
With the securing of the necessary financial resources and the recruitment of 60 new members of regular hourly paid staff, the 24-hour operation of the Rural Fire Stations is extended, a measure that aims at immediate intervention in high-risk areas and the drastic reduction of response time, especially during the critical evening hours.
For the implementation of the extension, a fund of €473,346 was secured, which covers the overtime staffing of the nurseries for a period of three months. With this funding, the presence of the Fire Brigade is significantly strengthened in rural and semi-mountainous areas.
Specifically, to the already existing 24-hour stations of Moniatis, Evrychou and Stroumbi, five additional stations are added in continuous operation in Pachna, Kelokedara, Lefkara, Peristerona and Xylofagou.
With this addition, the total number of rural stations operating on a continuous basis now stands at eight. This is another measure implemented during this year's fire season, with the aim of reducing the first response time and more effectively protecting communities, forests and rural areas.
The need for their continuous staffing was deemed imperative, as extreme weather conditions, prolonged drought and high temperatures sharply increase the risk of rapid spread of fires. At the same time, these stations will offer immediate assistance in road accidents, rescue operations and other humanitarian needs.
At the same time, planning for the further upgrading of rural fire protection continues. In this context, a study is already underway for the creation of 14 new Rural Fire Stations, while the possibility of gradually transitioning all existing stations to a 24-hour operation regime is also being examined, with the aim of creating an even more integrated and effective fire protection network throughout the territory.
The extension of the hours of the stations is part of a broader and integrated operational planning for this year's fire season, which includes a series of additional prevention and preparedness measures.
The severity of the situation is reflected in the numbers, as more than 1,250 rural fires have already been recorded since the beginning of the year, which underscores the importance of early intervention and continuous operational readiness to effectively tackle fires.
In the battle of firefighting and prevention, 13 aircraft are operating. At the same time, 400 members of volunteer teams were trained on specialized fire suppression and crisis management issues, enhancing joint operational readiness.
A tender was awarded for the installation of modern electro-optical surveillance means in industrial areas and in the energy center, with the aim of immediate detection of outbreaks.
In addition, the existing network of surveillance cameras in forest and semi-mountainous areas is utilized, while motorized patrols and teams of drone operators operate daily to detect smoke in time.
At the same time, the systematic control and maintenance of fire-fighting water spouts in all cities and communities continues without interruption.
For the first time, a specialized land firefighting team from Greece will be deployed in Cyprus, through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which will operate based in Platres during the first fortnight of September.
Also, 10 chained vehicles have been placed to date at strategic points in the districts of Limassol, Paphos and Larnaca for immediate response, in case of a fire. At the same time, 5 tanker trucks are on standby for response and water supply to refuel the tanks of the fire trucks.
Furthermore, according to the Chief Fire Marshal of the Cyprus Fire Service, Nikos Longinos, the Fire Service has set up special fire prevention teams, which carry out systematic visits to communities in all provinces. They provide guidance to community councils for the early identification of hazardous areas in need of cleaning, as well as for the creation and proper maintenance of the necessary fire zones.
The Chief Fire Marshal placed particular emphasis on the operation of the Crisis Center and the Unified Coordination Center for Operations of the Fire Service. It is a modern, flexible and efficient management mechanism, which incorporates advanced technological equipment, specialized information systems and well-trained staff. Through this, the immediate assessment and effective coordination of all available ground and air forces in real time is ensured, while utilizing meteorological data for the timely response to extreme conditions.
