To mark the fifth anniversary, which fell on July 3, of the deadly fire in Arakapa, the community leader of the area, Ioannis Georgiou, spoke on the Alpha Summer program about the current situation.

It should be noted that the fire broke out at noon on July 3 and, due to extreme weather conditions, very strong winds, and high temperatures, it spread rapidly, burning vast tracts of land.

The tragic toll was four deaths, with the massive fire becoming one of the greatest environmental and humanitarian disasters Cyprus has ever had to face.

Five years after the deadly fire that ravaged Arakapa, the area has shown a noticeable improvement; however, according to the community leader, the scars left by the disaster remain deep.

As he said, the community continues to bear the irreparable losses caused by the fire, the most tragic of which was the death of four people.

At the same time, he noted that the natural environment also suffered a significant blow, as the pine trees and centuries-old olive trees that were destroyed can hardly be replaced. Nevertheless, part of the vegetation has gradually begun to regenerate, restoring the landscape’s greenery.

Mr. Georgiou noted that the community has carried out extensive tree-planting efforts in recent years, pointing out that many of these were successful. However, many did not survive, mainly due to adverse weather conditions and prolonged periods of drought.

Despite the difficulties, the community leader emphasized that Arakapás remains an attractive destination for visitors. As he noted, visitors to the community can enjoy the area’s natural beauty, explore nature trails, and experience firsthand the history, tradition, and local hospitality firsthand, while also contributing to the effort to revitalize the community.

Prevention, timely response, and continuous monitoring are the key pillars for effectively combating wildfires, emphasized Markos Tragolas, former Director of the Fire Department, speaking on the Alpha Summer program.

Referring to the restoration of burned areas, he explained that nature needs time to regenerate. As he said, it takes several years for the environment to begin to recover, and natural vegetation usually reappears after four to five years, gradually growing back.

Referring to the deadly Arakapa fire in 2021, Mr. Tragolas noted that, although he had already retired from the Fire Department in August 2019, he found himself near the fireline and witnessed firsthand the full intensity of the disaster.

Comparing the situation to today, he argued that government agencies are now better prepared to deal with large wildfires. As he noted, significant progress has been made through the use of drones, which monitor high-risk areas and transmit real-time footage either to Fire Department Headquarters or to the Service’s upgraded Coordination Center.

The former Director of the Fire Service also explained the framework for cooperation between the Fire Service and the Forestry Department. According to the law, the Forestry Department is responsible for fires that break out within state-owned forests and within a radius of up to two kilometers from them, while the Fire Department is responsible for all other areas. He clarified, however, that there are cases where a single forest includes both state-owned and privately owned land, a fact that requires close coordination between the relevant agencies.

As he explained, upon receiving any fire call, the Fire Department immediately mobilizes its forces and simultaneously notifies the Forestry Department. If the situation requires it, Civil Defense and certified, trained volunteer teams are also activated.

Mr. Tragolas appealed to the public to avoid any action that could cause a fire, emphasizing that, under current weather conditions, even the slightest negligence can lead to a fire spreading rapidly.

“We’ve always had fires,” he noted, pointing out, however, that their outcome depends on prevention, preparedness, and the immediate response of the relevant agencies.

Finally, he placed particular emphasis on the need for the continuous deployment of firefighting forces and the conduct of ground and aerial patrols on a 24-hour basis, especially during the critical hours from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., when the risk of fires breaking out and spreading is heightened.