Aerial firefighting units and an increase in Forestry Department and Fire Services staff are needed to avert catastrophes similar to the Soleas fire earlier year.
A report submitted to the Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou by the committee appointed following the Soleas fire in Troodos, stressed the necessity of the Fire Services to be supplied with aerial means to combat fires in hard to reach places, and that they should be supplied with the latest in fire-fighting equipment.
The three-man committee, headed by George Boustras, associate professor at the European University and assisted by former Fire Services chief Giorgos Hadjigeorgiou and former Forestry Department Director, Aristos Ioannou also raised the issue of the autonomy of the Fire Services so as to better combat and coordinate fire-fighting operations.
The committee also stressed the need for increasing the Fire Services and Forestry department’s operational personnel and the restructuring and upgrading of the Disaster Response Special Unit (DRSU). It also called on the Forestry Department to proceed with the formation of firebreaks as soon as possible.
The Committee in submitting its report assessed the existing plans of action and the way that they are executed, coordinated and organised. It also looked at the means at the fire service’s disposal to combat fires.
It also made suggestions for preventative measures, stressing that the schools should play an instrumental role in creating the necessary fire-awareness culture.
The Justice ministry along with those of Agriculture and Interior will study the report in order to set in motion the necessary restructuring of the fire fighting system.
The Soleas fire in June burned for days, destroying more than 18.5 square kilometres of lush forest and resulted in the tragic loss of the lives of two Forestry Department firefighters. Hundreds of volunteers took part in the effort to put out the fire as well as foreign aerial fire-fighting units from Greece, Italy, France, and the British Bases in Cyprus.
