Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I am here today to address you on the occasion of the launch of this year's Fire Safety Week. But first, allow me to express my sincere thanks to CNP Insurance for participating in this campaign as a co-organising sponsor, demonstrating once again the policy of social responsibility that characterises the Agency.
This week has been established as the Fire Service's annual fire protection awareness campaign, whose primary objective is to educate and raise public awareness of fire risks, both in urban areas and in the countryside.
Respect for the natural environment and care 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 Government of Nicos Christodoulides has placed high on its priorities the continuous evaluation and enhancement of the effectiveness of the entire system of prevention, response and suppression of fires in the country, both through the strengthening and upgrading of the logistical infrastructure, as well as through the introduction of technological systems and means of surveillance, detection and early detection of forest and forest fires.
On the occasion of the deadly fire of Arakapa in the summer of 2021, it was decided after a study to introduce and install a holistic surveillance system using modern technologies, with the ultimate goal of both prevention and response to forest and urban fires and other disasters. We are already in the final stage of implementing the first phase of this holistic project, at a total cost of 2 million 490 thousand euros, which consists of the installation of a real-time image transmission network at the Zenon Coordination Centre, the Fire Service, Forestry Department, Air Force and Forward Operating Centres, the installation of four forest fire surveillance and detection systems - which in the event of fire detection will send an image of the fire in the event of a fire being detected. As an indication, from 1 May, all Rural Fire Stations and Observatories of the Pancyprian Fire Service will be reinforced and staffed with appropriate personnel. A patrol programme will be drawn up in cooperation with other relevant services, both with seasonal and aerial means for surveillance of all agroforestry areas, and also from 1 May, the "Zenon" Coordination Centre will be staffed with personnel from the Fire Service and the Forestry Department.
The effort of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order to upgrade and further strengthen the firefighting infrastructure is ongoing. The upgrading of the Moniati and Evrychos Stations to Regional Fire Stations and their full staffing with highly trained permanent firefighters is expected to be completed with the approval of new firefighter positions. Already the required new firefighter positions to staff the Evrychou Fire Station have been approved and are expected to be included in the next Fire Department budget. In addition, in 2022 the following were completed and put into operational readiness:
- the Fire Station for the Energy Centre in Vasilikos and,
- the Limassol Kybidis Fire Station.
Furthermore, the construction of new Fire Stations, both in urban areas and in the countryside, as well as the upgrading of existing Fire Stations, is promoted. Within 2023, the construction of the new regional Fire Station of Ayia Napa, the new Fire Stations of Pachna, Eptagonia and Pedoulas, as well as the creation of the Unified Coordinating Operations Centre of the Fire Service, a project that will contribute greatly to the more effective management of fires and other serious incidents, is expected to begin.
There is also an ongoing effort to strengthen the human resources of the Fire Service. We are already at the stage of filling the vacancies, which amount to 260, as well as at the final stage for the selection of volunteer firefighters, an action which has been institutionalized with the recent adoption of the relevant Law which defines, among other things, the criteria for obtaining the status of volunteer firefighter.
With regard to fire-fighting aircraft, I would like to mention that for this year's fire season we will have a sufficient number of aircraft at our disposal, and in case the need for additional aircraft arises, we have secured the immediate assistance of the British Bases, Israel and Greece, as well as the European Response Mechanism rescEU.
In the context of better coordination of ground and air forces, on 24 May 2023, Exercise "Pyrsos" will take place in the Limassol mountainous area, with the participation of all government services involved.
Dear Friends,
Climate change is a phenomenon now visible to all, with noticeable effects, especially in terms of increasing the frequency and intensity of fires, as well as the extent of burnt areas. Therefore, strengthening the fire protection sector and timely operational planning during this year's fire season is of paramount importance. However, this alone is not enough.
Awareness and the contribution of everyone, local authorities, voluntary organisations and civil society itself, is required. Together we can all develop decisive preventive actions to avoid unpleasant situations, whether due to ignorance or negligence.
The cost of the fires that have occurred in recent years in our country has been enormous. It has cost the lives of many of our fellow human beings, while the losses have been incalculable for the environment, agricultural activities, the economy and the lives of all of us.
In declaring the start of Fire Safety Week, I call on everyone to work and cooperate to protect our country from the nightmare of fires. In closing, I express the hope and expectation that the human factor will not be the main source of fire damage again this year.
(AF/EXP)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
