By Andreas Izamis
A forest fire which broke out in the Nicosia District on Thursday signalled the Forestry Department’s ‘dangerous period’ which finds it not only understaffed but under-funded.
This despite promises that Cyprus would be ready to go when the long hot tinder-dry season is upon us.
Following the devastating blaze in the Soleas region last June in which two firefighters lost their lives and 18.5 square kilometres of forest were destroyed an expert committee was established to suggest ways to better handle forest fires.
Since then, unfortunately, nothing seems to have changed.
Communities that were affected by last year’s fire have expressed their frustration at the lack of progress.
“The government only knows about tourists and beaches,” said Kannavia community leader Xenakis Xenophontos, “nothing much has changed since last year.”
“The one thing we keep going on about is how the sides of the roads should be kept clean and the grass cut, nothing has happened, as for the fire lanes – only a few have been widened,” said Xenophontos attributing the lack of progress to a lack of available financing.
“Nicosia only knows how to give orders,” said Spilia community leader Miltiades Ierides. “Money is required to get things done, they don’t happen by themselves,” he added.
“We’ve asked for more fire-hose nozzle adapters to be installed along the water supply lines in the area – we’re still waiting,” he said.
They have a point. Cyprus only budgets 0.02% of its GDP to firefighting and that includes salaries, benefits, rentals and maintenance of the Forestry Department, Fire Services and Civil Defence and, since the economic crisis, it has seen a continuous decline, falling to about 0.019%.
In 2010, the Forestry Department had a budget of €43.67 million. By 2016, it had been reduced by 28.6% to €31.16 million
Change takes time
“We are at the same level of preparedness as we were last year; more alert, especially after the Soleas fire, but at the same level,” said Takis Tsintides, Forest Department Director referring to the “many bad circumstances” that led to his Department losing the battle at the onset of the Soleas fire.
“Unfortunately, changing the system will not be a quick affair, as the cabinet is still reviewing the report submitted by the independent committee appointed by the president,” said Tsintides.
The evaluation of the study does involve a number of ministries, their departments and services and each will be required to evaluate remarks made by the Committee.
“We have been approved a €3-million fund to replace our fleet of vehicles and we are expecting the first delivery in 2018,” said Tsintides.
The report by the Committee found that by far the vehicles used by the Forestry Department were over 15 years old, some as old as 40 and recommended their gradual replacement with new vehicles and additional service vehicles.
Sources close to the Cyprus Weekly have also revealed that the vehicles destroyed in last year’s Soleas fire have not been replaced.
At the moment, the Forestry Department has 460 firemen, including permanent staff, part-timers and contract workers, which are divided into two shifts of 230 men of which 210 are ready for active duty, while the remaining 20 usually man observation posts throughout the island’s forests.
Figures, which, according to the report submitted by the investigative committee, are insufficient to man the Department’s fleet of firefighting vehicles. Furthermore, the Committee has recommended that, due to the increase of the area under the Forestry Department’s control, fire fighting personnel should number at least 500.
Air power
The Forestry Department is assisted in aerial firefighting by existing protocols of cooperation with Greece and Israel, but has also long-standing relations with the British Bases and additional help from the police and National Guard.
The Committee recommends the purchase of two aeroplanes similar to the two currently used by the Forestry Department to cover its needs, as it has determined that the existing local aerial firefighting means at the Department’s disposal are not sufficient to combat large fires such as the one last year.
At the same time, the Committee has recommended the construction of two airstrips in Kokkinotrimithia and Ayia Marina in Paphos to facilitate refuelling of firefighting aeroplanes and to save valuable time and fuel lost when planes refuel at Akrotiri, Larnaca and Paphos airports.
The problems faced by the Forestry Department are no secret. The report highlights the problems and makes recommendations. It was submitted in October 2016 and nothing has been implemented pending its evaluation.
The Forestry Department’s employee’s union submitted a nine-page document to a joint meeting of the House Interior, Agricultural and Environmental Committees on July 7, 2016, highlighting operational problems caused by budget cuts and understaffing accompanied by proposals to solve many of the issues.
On May 4, union representatives will meet with Finance and Agricultural Ministry officials regarding the implementation of the overtime system and the organisational structure of the Forestry Department which, according to union sources, have collapsed due to budget cuts.