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- Ελληνικά
It gives me great pleasure to address you today on the occasion of the launch of Fire Safety Week for the year 2024. For the 23rd consecutive year, CNP Insurance and the Fire Service are collaborating in this major effort to raise awareness and inform the public about fire prevention and response.
I would therefore like to express my sincere thanks to CNP Insurance for participating in this campaign as a co-organising sponsor, demonstrating once again the social responsibility policy that characterises the Agency.
"To prevent our dreams from turning to ashes." This central message of this year's Fire Safety Week reflects the seriousness of the risk that our country faces every fire season from the ravages of wildfires. Respect, dear friends, for our natural environment and personal and collective concern for the protection of every inch of our land from all forms of danger is a matter of essential importance for human survival itself, and therefore fire protection measures are the responsibility of all of us.
The challenges that the Fire Service is called upon to face and manage on a daily basis are increasing.
Responding to these challenges and always having as its primary concern the safeguarding and protection of human life and property, the preservation of biodiversity and the forest and woodland areas of our country, the Government of President Christodoulides, has placed very high on its priorities the continuous evaluation and strengthening of the entire fire protection system, both through the strengthening and upgrading of the logistical infrastructure, means and equipment, as well as through the introduction of technological systems and means of surveillance.
The deadly fire in the mountainous Limassol in the summer of 2021 was the trigger for the development of a holistic system for fire prevention, fire management and crisis management purposes, which includes the installation and utilization of modern technological systems and means of surveillance and early detection of fires. Phase A of this holistic system was completed and put into full operational implementation during last year's fire season, significantly increasing the degree of surveillance of the Republic's forest and para-forest area.
The planning for the start of the implementation of Phase B, which will lead to the full operational readiness of the System is at a very advanced stage and very soon the competent Ministries of Justice and Public Order and Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will submit relevant proposals to the Council of Ministers for approval of the promotion of the purchase of the necessary equipment.
At the same time, the Fire Service is preparing feverishly in order to be fully prepared and operationally ready in view of the fire season.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Further upgrading and strengthening the infrastructure of the Fire Service is high on the priorities of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order and me personally. As an indication, the Moniati and Evrychos Fire Stations have been upgraded to Regional Fire Stations and operate on a 24-hour basis, properly staffed with firefighting workers and permanent personnel. Furthermore, the construction of new Fire Stations in both urban and rural areas is being promoted, as well as the upgrading of existing Fire Stations.
There is also a continuous effort to strengthen the human resources of the Fire Service. Already, the process for the recruitment of 259 new Firefighters is in its final stage, while the operational actions of the Fire Service during this year's fire season will be assisted by the first volunteer firefighters, who have received relevant training. It is expected that, as is the case every year, the contribution of the organised groups of specialised volunteers registered in the Fire Service's registers will also be significant.
Dear friends,
In a few hours we will officially enter the new fire season. I say officially, because already, for several days now, the temperature has risen significantly above the average climatic values for the season, with the result that the first fires have already appeared. Therefore, strengthening the fire protection sector, timely operational planning and increasing the degree of preparedness and immediate response of all fire-fighting services during this fire season is of paramount importance.
But this alone is not enough. This effort needs the assistance of everyone, local authorities, voluntary organisations and civil society itself. It is in this context, and redeeming to the best possible extent the contract that we as a Government have entered into with civil society, that we invest in cooperation and in strengthening the active action of every aware citizen, in order to further upgrade and strengthen the level of fire protection in our communities, in our forests and in our natural environment.
Expanding, therefore, the already successful institution of the Neighbourhood Watch, which currently counts more than 110,000 registered Watchers nationwide, to Fire Safety Watchers, we invite these thousands of registered Watchers, but also all those who wish to acquire the status of Watcher, to join forces with the Fire Service and become an extension of the observatories and other means of surveillance, not only for the timely detection and notification in case of a fire in the area where they live and operate, but also for the notification of any wrong or suspicious human activities, which, unfortunately, are the main cause of fires.
Together we can all develop crucial preventive actions in order to avoid unpleasant situations, whether due to ignorance or negligence. Together we can prevent the recurrence of the huge and devastating fires of recent years.
Prevent our dreams from turning to ashes.[/B]
In declaring the start of Fire Safety Week, I invite you all to work and cooperate to protect our country from the nightmare of fires.
In conclusion, I would like to express my hope and expectation that the human factor will not be the main source of fires this year, once again stigmatizing the Cypriot countryside.
Thank you.
(ΕΠ/ΝZ)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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