Limassol Wildfire Highlights Aerial Firefighting Resource Shortage
In the wake of a major wildfire that ravaged the Limassol State Forest, the Republic of Cyprus has come face to face with a stark reality: a significant scarcity of aerial firefighting resources. The fire, caused by improperly disarmed fireworks during a routine quarry disposal operation, quickly escalated, necessitating an immediate and robust response.
With only one of the eight primary aerial assets currently in possession, ground crews were left to shoulder the heavy load of containment efforts. Minister of Agriculture Maria Panayiotou addressed the shortfall, citing unsuccessful tenders for the rental of additional aerial assets. “This year’s tenders for the rental of aerial assets were not fruitful,” she stated, highlighting that the reinforcements are not expected until June.
Panayiotou also noted the government’s shift in strategy, moving from renting to purchasing ten proprietary aerial firefighting assets. This decision marks a significant change in how Cyprus will manage its aerial firefighting capabilities in the future.
Initial responses to the blaze involved a single aircraft from the Department of Forests, with subsequent support from police helicopters and those from the British Bases. The Department of Forests is currently operating with only one of its two owned aircraft, with the second slated for arrival in July.
Two tenders are underway to secure four firefighting planes and two helicopters, with hopes to conclude by early June. Success in these tenders would bolster the Department of Forests’ fleet to eight primary aerial assets. Furthermore, a tender for three long-term firefighting aircraft is under review by the Tenders Review Authority.
As a contingency, Cyprus can activate secondary aerial assets, including two Police helicopters and two National Guard helicopters. Additionally, international agreements with Jordan, Greece, and Israel provide Cyprus with potential support on high-risk days. Despite these arrangements, establishing a permanent presence of aerial assets from neighbouring countries at the Andreas Papandreou Air Base has proven unsuccessful.
The concept of creating a European aerial firefighting base in Cyprus as part of the rescEU framework has been discussed. However, due to mismanagement issues within the Department of Forests, this initiative has yet to materialize.
In previous years, Cyprus had access to six primary aerial firefighting assets in 2021 and eight in 2022. Despite this incremental increase, challenges persist annually, particularly during the early months when these resources are most crucial. In the event of large wildfires, Cyprus must rely on international aid, which can take upwards of 48 hours to arrive and join local firefighting operations.
