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- Ελληνικά
Today, 23 May 2024, a large forest fire fighting exercise called "Hephaestus 2024" was successfully completed southwest of the community of Kakopetria, Nicosia District.
The ceremony was attended by, among others, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, representatives of Ministries, a representative of the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Director General of the General Directorate of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, the Chief Rear Admiral of the Fire Service, representatives of the British Bases, the UN Peacekeeping Force Cyprus and representatives of Departments and Services involved in forest fires.
The purpose of the exercise was to test the effectiveness of the Special National Plan "Hephaestus" for suppression of large forest fires, to upgrade the operational readiness and effectiveness of personnel and to optimize the cooperation of all agencies involved in forest firefighting.
The main speaker at the exercise was the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Dr. Maria Panayiotou. In her speech, the Minister stressed, among other things, the importance of adequate preparation, enhanced professional training of personnel and increased operational readiness, which are strategic investments against environmental threats. Exercise Hephaestus, he added, "highlights our commitment to strengthening the response capacity of the fire management system, ensuring an integrated and coordinated effort in responding to and extinguishing fires."
He then referred to policies related to the protection and management of forest fires, as well as the Government's determination to support and strengthen the agencies involved in terms of manpower, firefighting equipment and infrastructure. Special mention was made by Dr Panagiotou to the cooperation that the Government has with neighbouring States in the field of aerial firefighting.
In conclusion, Dr Panagiotou thanked the Forestry Department, as well as all those involved for their continuous effort and dedication to the protection of forests.
The scenario of the exercise envisaged a forest fire in the area of the Troodos National Forest Park, near the community of Kakopetrias and had subsequently evolved into a "Crisis."
Based on the scenario, the communities of Galata and Kakopetrias were potentially at risk, as well as cottages and other outbuildings. The assessment was the further extension of the fire, which would probably burn a large area of the Troodos National Forest Park.
Under the scenario it was considered necessary to implement the Special National Plan "Hephaestus". The firefighting work was further supported by forces from the Forestry Department, Fire Service, Police, Nicosia District Administration, Game and Wildlife Service, Civil Defence, National Guard, Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, Ambulance Service, Meteorology Department, British Bases, as well as the volunteer groups SOS, Kitas-weather, Support-CY and ETEA.
The "Ikaros 2" Plan concerning flight operations was also implemented, with the involvement of all air assets available to the Republic of Cyprus and flight assets from the British Bases. The flying firefighting operations were also supported by flying assets from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
In addition, the scenario of the exercise provided for evacuation, evacuation of the wounded, feeding of all personnel involved in the operations, as well as mapping the perimeter of the fire and detection of any active fires from a drone.
The entire operation was coordinated by the Fire Manager based at the Forestry Department's Local Operations Center, in cooperation with representatives/liaisons of all agencies involved.
(NYAN/EATH)
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