Charalambos Pittokopitis, the newly elected President of the Paphos Provincial Autonomy Organisation, described a wildfire engulfing a large area of Paphos as a “tragedy.” Pitokopis said he visited the firefront, speaking with the Director of the Department of Forests. He questioned why the Director, an experienced firefighting professional, was at the Crisis Management Centre in … Read more
Firefighting forces are currently battling wildfires in the communities of Xyliatos and Gourri. The fire in Xyliatos broke out at 15:00 while the fire in Gourri started at 13:54. Ground and aerial forces are working to extinguish both fires, which are ongoing. In addition, the Fire Service is supporting firefighting efforts on the Anthoupoli – Palechori road in the area of Agia Koroni.
Fact: The primary focus of the exercise was to assess the effectiveness of the national firefighting strategy ‘Hephaestus’ for large forest fire suppression.
The European Commission will provide Cyprus with two light aircraft to enhance its firefighting capabilities this summer due to the increased wildfire risks in the Southeastern Mediterranean region. The Air Tractor models will be leased by Cyprus, with costs covered by the EU through the RescEU mechanism. The aircraft will be available for deployment to other EU countries if necessary. RescEU activations have increased significantly in recent years, with Cyprus activating the mechanism eight times since 2016. Wildfires have affected 500 million hectares globally in 2023, with Greece, Spain, and Italy being the hardest hit. The focus this year is on strengthening firefighting personnel, with additional firefighters being sent to France, Greece, Portugal, and Spain for the third consecutive summer from various EU countries.
Two major wildfires have already occurred in Cyprus, one due to mishandling of explosives and the other for unknown reasons. Despite the country’s vulnerability to wildfires due to its dry climate, efforts to acquire aerial firefighting assets have been unsuccessful. Assistance from neighbouring countries, such as Jordan, has been requested during emergencies. The lack of proper firefighting resources has resulted in devastating consequences, with firefighters losing their lives and significant areas of land being burned. The country faces a state of neglect and lack of progress in crucial projects.
First major wildfires of the season have spread to roughly 10,000 hectares across Western Canada. Evacuation orders issued for communities in British Columbia due to poor air quality. Residents in Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nations evacuated as blaze nearly doubled in size. Fire in Fort McMurray, an oil hub, was tamed by favorable weather. Alberta recorded 43 active fires, including one near Fort McMurray. Fire started by fallen tree on power line. Evacuation alerts in place for several communities as precaution. Smoke in Fort McMurray from fires in British Columbia. Environment Canada issued special air quality statement for several provinces. Canada warned of “catastrophic” wildfire season ahead due to warm winter and ongoing drought.
Firefighters have managed to control a wildfire that broke out in the Agios Sylas industrial area of Limassol, burning through approximately six square kilometers of land. Strong winds forecasted for the following day could still pose a challenge to their efforts. The threat of rekindling remains high, and firefighting forces are working through the night to secure the area. Additional resources have been mobilized, and an investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
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A wildfire is burning near factories in the Agios Sylas industrial area in Limassol, prompting evacuations and a large-scale firefighting response. Firefighters are working to protect the industrial zone, with assistance from neighbouring regions, aircraft, and the Civil Defence.
A man was convicted of involuntary arson for his role in Greece’s deadliest wildfire in memory, and five former fire officials were found guilty of misdemeanours linked to their response to the 2018 blaze.
A major wildfire in the Limassol State Forest exposed a critical shortage of aerial firefighting resources in Cyprus. The fire, caused by improperly disarmed fireworks, led to ground crews bearing the brunt of firefighting efforts. The Republic of Cyprus currently has only one primary aerial asset, with reinforcements not expected until June. Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou acknowledged the weakness in aerial capabilities and mentioned plans to purchase proprietary aerial assets instead of renting them. Various tenders are underway to secure more firefighting planes and helicopters, with assistance from other countries also being considered in case of large wildfires.