Fire constitutes the most serious danger for the forests of Cyprus. A wide range of factors such as the long, hot and dry summers, the frequent strong winds, the configuration of the ground and the inflammability of the vegetation, favour the easy outbreak and quick spread of fires. Furthermore, the abandonment of rural areas due to urbanism and the increasing tourism and mass exit of population towards the forest areas, raises fire hazard to the highest level.



2. Impacts of forest fires

The negative impacts of a forest fire are many. Forest fires put at risk the safety of people and their properties, they cause serious economic losses, result in excessive soil erosion and in certain cases flood, they damage the ecosystems, impair the landscape and aesthetic value of forests, they cause destruction of natural monuments and other.


3. Causes of forest fires

The biggest percentage of forest fires in Cyprus is of human origin and is mainly a result of negligence and lack of attention despite the fact that in some cases is a result of incendiarism.

Forest fires are usually the result of:

• Burning grass – gorse or stubble by farmers without taking the necessary precautionary measures
• Careless visitors and picnickers when using fire for cooking and grilling
• Burning cigarette ends and matches used by careless smokers
• Military exercises with ammunition or explosives of any kind
• Hunting during the summer period
• Burning of rubbish at non organized rubbish dumps
• Various activities by the owners of country houses
• Lightning
• Arson

In order to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks, a number of prevention measures are taken. These are:

1. Law enforcement
The Cyprus Forest Law prohibits the lighting of any fire or the throwing of burning cigarette ends and matches in the forest or within a radius of 1 km from the boundaries of the forests. Offenders are liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding £ 5.000 (8.500 euro) or to both such sentences.

2. Forest fire information campaigns (publicity)
The Department of Forests launches an intense enlightening campaign each year aiming at the sensitization of citizens about the forest fire danger. This campaign targets mainly the rural population, students, soldiers and organised groups.

3. Picnic Sites
Picnic sites can be found in most forest areas. These sites are established and maintained for two main reasons. Primarily, for the fulfillment of the recreational requirements of the public and secondly for fire protection purposes.

4. Patrolling
During fire season, regular patrols are organised in various forest regions and especially along the forest delimitation line where most of the forest fires start. The main aims of these patrols are: the prompt detection and rapid intervention in case of a forest fire, the enlightenment of local people and the enforcement of the Forest Law.



5. Pre-supression measures

In order to facilitate fire fighting efforts during a forest fire, a number of measures are taken in advance: These measures are mainly forest fire infrastructure and include the following:

1. Fire breaks
Fire breaks are constructed with the aim to stop a fire through the interruption of the continuity of fuels. Their width ranges from 6–30 m depending on the configuration of the ground and the vegetation. They can be also used by vehicles and fire engines and this is the reason why in most cases fire breaks are constructed on gentle ridges.

2. Forest roads
A good and dense road network exists throughout the forests which is necessary for efficient forest management and effective fire protection. These roads are planned in such a way to provide access to the entire territory of the forests. Forest roads facilitate the continuous monitoring of the forest and enable rapid intervention in the case of a fire incident. Furthermore, forest roads may also serve as fire breaks.

3. Forest Telecommunication system
The Department of Forests maintains its own telephone network and radiotelephone system. Both facilitate co-ordination among forest staff and contribute significantly in fire suppression efforts in the case of a fire incident.

4. Water tanks, hydrants, water valves
Nowadays, fire fighting is done to a large extent using water. In order to secure the necessary quantity of water to supply fire engines in case of a fire incident, concrete water tanks of about 90 m³ are constructed along roads. Hydrants and water valves are installed on water pipelines which pass through the forest.

5. Fire look out stations
A network of fire look out stations that are placed on various strategic points (usually on the top of mountains in order to ensure maximum monitoring), are the main source of detecting forest fires. During the fire season, fire look out stations are manned on a 24-hour basis by experienced firewatchers.

6. Forest stations
Forest stations are built-units scattered all over the forest regions. They are manned by experienced fire fighters and forest officers throughout the fire season.

7. Heli-landing spots
Within or near the forests a network of heli-landing spots exists. Heli-landing spots can be used by the helicopters for transportation of personnel and supplies.

8. Silvicultural treatments
Silvicultural treatments aim at reducing the risk of a fire outbreak as well as to reduce the rate of spread in the case of an active forest fire. These include: Pruning, cleaning, removal of the herbaceous vegetation along roadsides, prescribed burnings etc.


6. Supression measures

1. Fire fighting task force
During the fire season the body of forest fire fighters is organised. This body is split up into groups of 6-15 individuals and it is placed in various forest stations. Each group is provided with vehicles, radiotelephones, fire engines and the necessary equipment for fire fighting.

2. Stand-by of forest officers
During the fire season a number of forest officers remain on duty on a rotation basis. In the case of a fire incident, they accompany the fire fighting squad and coordinate fire fighting.

3. Cyprus Forestry College
The students of the Cyprus Forestry College can be considered as a well organised fire fighting group. Like forest officers, they remain on duty during the fire season and join other fire fighting groups in the case of a fire incident.

4. Fire engines
The Department of Forests allocates a large number of fire engines in the various forest stations. All engines are fully equipped and are manned by experienced fire fighters.

5. Vehicles
Transportation vehicles equipped with radiotelephones and fire fighting tools are distributed in all forest stations. In the case of a fire incident they are used for the carriage of forest officers and fire fighters.

6. Tractors
Crawler tractors (bulldozers) can also be used in fire fighting for the construction of fire breaks.

7. Stores
In all forest stations there are stores for fire fighting tools.

8. Co-operation with other Services and the public
The Department of Forests collaborates with other state services like the Fire Service, the Police, the Army, the Game Fund, the District Administrations, the Civil Defense, and the various Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment. It is a multilateral co-operation that includes among other things, the exchange of information, training, preparation of fire protection plans, preventive strategic planning, and the availability of personnel and other equipment in case of fires. Collaboration exists also with the United Nations Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) as well as with bodies of volunteer fire fighters.


7. Spokesperson of the Department of Forests

The spokesperson of the Department of Forests is Mr Andreas Christou whom is in close collaboration with the media, providing information on forest fires. People can contact the spokesperson via the telephone number: 22819490 (working hours), 99477813, 99539383, the fax: 22303935 or the email: achristou@fd.moa.gov.cy