Cyprus holds first national wildfire coordination meeting

The first national coordination meeting regarding the prevention and management of rural and forest fires took place on Tuesday at the Fire Service Headquarters in Lakatamia. Newly appointed National Fire Coordinator and Chief Fire Officer Nikos Longinos emphasized that the strategy will focus on improved prevention and inter-agency coordination. Longinos noted that while coordination is challenging, existing national plans will be reviewed and updated to handle potential emergencies. Participants included representatives from relevant government departments, ministry directors, the Commissioner for Mountain Communities, Charalambos Christofinas, and the President of the Union of Cyprus Communities, Andreas Kitromilides. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that seven airplanes and four helicopters will be operational to assist with firefighting by May 1st. Both the Fire Service and the Forestry Department have committed to maximizing efforts to prevent fire outbreaks and suppress potential spread. These measures are intended to establish a more robust response mechanism ahead of the summer season.