[PIO] Statements of the Government Spokesman on the meeting of the President of the Republic regarding the response to the fires

Decisions aimed at tackling the fires were taken at today's meeting, which was chaired by the President of the Republic Mr.

In his statements to journalists at the Presidential Palace, as part of his media briefing, Government Spokesman Mr. Constantinos Letibiotis said: "A wide-ranging meeting was held today, under the President of the Republic, at the Presidential Palace on the issue of dealing with fires and natural phenomena.

The meeting was held in the presence of the Ministers of Interior, Defence, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Justice and Public Order, the Deputy Minister to the President, the Chief of Police, the Chief of the Fire Service, the Special Advisor to the President of the Republic for Crisis Management and Civil Protection, Professor George Bustra, and officials of the Ministries.

During the meeting, which is a continuation of a previous corresponding coordination meeting in October, the implementation of further measures concerning fire prevention and response, as well as operational preparedness for civil protection was discussed.

Specifically, after all the competent Services were informed about their readiness, the following decisions were taken.

1. Submission of a proposal by the Ministry of Interior to the Council of Ministers by the end of the year for upgrading the Civil Defence to a Civil Protection Service.
2. Submission of a plan and proposal by the Ministry of Defence for the gradual incorporation of the forest fire-fighting aviation unit into the National Guard.
3. Reopening of the Forestry College from 01/01/2025.
4. Within the framework of the implementation of the 2nd phase of the holistic civil protection system, the installation of additional sensors for early detection of fires.
5. Gradual acquisition by the State of 10 fire-fighting aircraft within the next 5 years.
6. At the end of March, the amendment bills concerning the tightening of penalties will be completed and submitted to the Legal Service.
7. Wild grass clearance by provincial administrations by the end of May.
8. Submission of a proposal by the Ministry of the Interior for the utilization, training and insurance of volunteers.

In addition, as part of the Government's continuing effort to prevent and respond to forest fires, an important agreement was reached yesterday, March 11, 2024, between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Forest Firefighters that responds to long-standing demands of forest firefighters.

Specifically, it was decided as follows. [*]During the winter watch period, six (6) to eight (8) stations shall be staffed throughout the forest area. Specifically, two (2) to three (3) stations will be staffed in the Paphos Forest District, two (2) to three (3) stations in the Troodos Forest District and two (2) in the Forest District of Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta:

1. In the first year, 2024, 30% of the Forest Fire Brigade will be covered.
2. In the second year, 2025, 40% of the Forest Fire Brigade will be covered.
3. In the third year, 2026, 50% of the Forest Fire Corps will be covered.

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A chronic and just demand, which has been pending for years, has been resolved through intensive consultations, making a decisive contribution to more effective measures to prevent and respond to forest fires, which are also a consequence of climate change."

Asked if the issue of early warning of fires on mobile phones had been discussed at the meeting, the Spokesman said: "This has also been discussed, as well as measures that can speed up its effective implementation. The decisions I have mentioned to you today are decisions that can be implemented as soon as possible." He added: "Such an issue, with its complexity, to be implemented for the first time in Cyprus has some challenges, but the timelines are normally met."

Asked about the issue of coordination of various agencies involved in fighting fires, the Spokesman said: "One issue that has been identified from the outset is the need for further coordination between the many agencies involved in fire incidents. Also, what has been observed in recent years is that the high-risk periods, as mentioned, are also expanding and widening due to climate change.

It is one of the reasons why it has been decided that the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment should have the responsibility of general coordination in such cases - it was a decision of a previous meeting at the Presidential Palace - and we have seen that in these cases, as well as in cases of drawing up action plans, we have succeeded in reducing the time needed to coordinate the firefighting activities.