Cyprus Fire Service to gain autonomy

The government will submit to the House of Representatives a bill regarding the autonomy of the Fire Service. Minister of Justice and Public Order Kypros Chrysostomides said that the bill will be submitted in the Autumn for a debate and approval before the House.
The Minister, who visited the headquarters of the Fire Service in Nicosia, added that the Ministry would do its utmost to reduce the problems faced by the Service, describing its role as ''especially important for Cyprus''.
Chrysostomides was briefed by Director of the Fire Service Andreas Nicolaou on the structure and work of the Service. Nicolaou said that 120 seasonal firemen have been employed for the summer needs of the Fire Service, adding that they patrol areas where fires are most likely to break out.
“They have succeeded in extinguishing a lot of fires before the flames could spread,” he said.
Asked how many employees are required for the Fire Service’s needs, Nicolaou said that the Public Administration and Personnel Department of the Ministry of Finance will prepare a study on the issue.
The Cyprus Fire Service has stations across the island. Ten fire stations in main cities, fire stations in the two main International Airports of Larnaka and Pafos and 15 rural stations that are manned by volunteer fire fighters.
Moreover, the Cyprus Fire Service has a Special Fire and Rescue Unit (EMAK), a Fire Fighting Training Center, a Fire Prevention Department, a Fire Service Maintenance Team (mechanical and garage facilities), Fire Service Stores as well as a Fire Service Information Technology Department.
The Cyprus Fire Service responds to calls by other countries, mostly neighboring countries, to help in efforts to extinguish disastrous fires. Last year, Cyprus sent the largest firefighting mission of firemen and volunteers to Greece, to combat the huge fires which hit the country.
However help from abroad is also needed when fires break out in Cyprus and the Cyprus Fire Service cannot respond effectively due to the extent of the fires.
The Fire Service attends to fire incidents as well as to a range of other incidents such as road traffic accidents, floods and animal rescue.