The readiness and adequacy of firefighting forces are more critical than ever due to the summer season, drought, and high temperatures. A continuing issue is the operation of rural fire stations, which are not staffed 24 hours a day despite the enormous needs that exist.

Speaking on the subject during the “Alpha Kalimera” program, Chief Fire Officer Nikos Loginos said that closing rural fire stations at 7 p.m. is a problem because some people “take advantage of this to start setting fires or engage in other activities that will cause a fire after 7 p.m.”

“For our part, the measures we’re taking are to authorize vehicles from the cities to respond in rural areas to put out fires.”

This issue, as the Fire Chief explained, is a long-standing one, since “the gap has existed since 1994, when firefighting responsibilities fell under provincial administrations and the Fire Department was provided with certain resources —14 fire trucks—without, however, increasing the Service’s budget, which was essentially intended for urban areas, with the result that we are forced to staff and purchase equipment in rural areas using the budget we have set aside to support the cities.”

Rural areas, Mr. Loginos said, “have been neglected; temperatures are rising; the countryside has become one with the forests, and the situation is extremely difficult, so we must minimize the time it takes.” “We’re doing everything we can,” he noted, adding that “in recent years, we’ve managed to operate three stations—Eurychos, Moniatis, and Stroubi—on a 24-hour basis.”

Meanwhile, he said, “from July 1 through September 30, five additional rural stations at strategic locations will be staffed on a 24-hour basis. These are Lefkara, Xylofagou, Peristerona, Pachna, and Kelokedara.”

All the studies have been completed and sent to the Ministry of Justice so that all outdoor stations can operate on a 24-hour basis, Mr. Logginos emphasized, adding that at the same time “there is a request to establish 14 more outdoor stations because the distances between the current stations are too great.”

The Chief Fire Officer also said that, for the first time this year, ground forces will be deployed from Greece through the European mechanism. The firefighting team will be stationed in Cyprus, specifically in Platres, under the supervision of the Forestry Department, from September 1 through September 15.

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