Cyprus’ Fire Service has already saved over 1,000 lives since the start of the year.
Speaking to reporters to announce a fire prevention campaign, Fire Service Director Marcos Trangolas said the lives of 1,284 people had been saved by Service personnel between January 1 and August 29.
The lives were saved as part of Fire Service responses to 7,073 calls of which 4,453 involved fires and the remainder other, specialised services,
Trangolas also said fires since the start of the years had caused €6,197,911, the majority of which was caused to urban areas.
Referring to efforts to prevent more fires, meanwhile, Trangolas announced the central fire stations of Cyprus’ towns would be opening their doors to the public every Saturday from September 3 between 4-7pm to better inform them.
He noted the number of rural area fires had halved following the devastating fire in the Soleas area. Trangolas said he hoped the reduction would stay in place until at least November, by the end of which the most dangerous time of the year for forest fire outbreaks will have ended.
He said the Service was already undertaking round-the clock patrols in high-danger areas as part of the efforts to prevent new outbreaks, while also reminding people of the dangers of brining weeds and other unwanted items. These bonfires remain the main cause of forest fires, Trangolas said.
He said a relevant law, which would see permits being required for burning and the practice being carried out only at a previously agreed on time and in the presence of a Fire Truck, was being formulated.
He also noted that some farmers and shepherds were known to set fires to make way for new grazing land, also a dangerous practice.
Trangolas, in addition, asked anyone with information on people who accidentally or purposely set potentially dangerous fires to report them to the authorities.