Greek Firefighters Join First Real Operation in Cyprus: Putting Out the Arsos Fire

A Greek firefighter crew, which was in Cyprus as part of the EU’s firefighter prepositioning training program, has joined the effort to extinguish a fire that broke out in the Arsos area. Cyprus’s fire service announced on Tuesday that this was the Greek team’s first real operation on the island.

According to Cypriot authorities, the Greek firefighters, who were conducting joint exercises with their Cypriot counterparts under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, were immediately made available for the operation to bring the flames under control. Their participation demonstrates, according to the announcement, the importance of European cooperation in emergency management.

The mission in Cyprus is part of the European Union’s prepositioning program for firefighter teams in the countries most at risk of forest fires during the summer season. Under this program, Greek teams have been sent to France and Cyprus.

This summer, the EU is carrying out its largest-ever operation against forest fires: 777 firefighters from 14 European countries have been pre-deployed in Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus. A new regional firefighting base, with capacity for six aircraft, is also planned in Cyprus.

Authorities emphasize that strengthening shared European capacities comes as a response to increasingly dry and hot seasons, which have significantly increased the risk of fires across the Mediterranean region.

Source: Cyprus Mail