Fire chief flags major gaps in evacuation and fire safety plans

Serious gaps in evacuation planning, widespread fire safety failures and limited immediate aerial capacity were expressed to parliament by fire chief Nikos Longinos on Wednesday.

Appearing before the House environment committee, Longinos directed particular criticism at civil defence over shortcomings exposed after last year’s Limassol fires.

He informed MPs that key weaknesses remain unresolved, especially in how evacuations are organised and communicated.

“I found gaps that have not yet been filled,” he said, adding that prevention and coordination now fall directly under his expanded oversight as acting national coordinator.

Civil defence representatives responded that evacuation plans are being revised, with around 80 per cent of communities in three districts having updated routes and procedures.

In the absence of a fully operational early warning system, expected to be piloted in June, radios have been distributed to community leaders in high-risk areas to enable direct alerts in the event of a fire.

The warnings came as Longinos revealed deeper structural weaknesses in the country’s fire readiness, including a shortage of rural fire stations and limited round the clock coverage.

He said a formal study has already been submitted proposing the 24-hour staffing of 14 existing rural stations and the creation of 14 more.

“By the time a fire truck arrives, we will lose a house or something else,” he said, citing communities such as in the village of Tsakistra where the nearest station is a significant distance away.

Of approximately 3,500 rural fires recorded annually, around 1,500 break out after 7pm, when many stations close.

Longinos suggested this pattern may not be accidental, remarking that “perhaps some people know that there are no vehicles to respond”.

Concerns were compounded by findings that 75 per cent of factories and more than half of recreation centres lack valid fire safety certification.

Pressed by MPs on enforcement, Longinos described a system where inspections are carried out yet penalties rarely imposed.

“Letters are sent, but they are not punished, they are not taken to court and they are not locked up. I do not see anyone mobilising,” he said, pointing to a failure of coordination between municipalities and the competent ministry.

Concurrently the two planes belonging to the forestry department are out of service, leaving a temporary gap in aerial capability.

According to official briefings relayed to parliament, four leased aircraft are expected to arrive on April 1, with total capacity rising to eleven aircraft including helicopters by May 1.

MPs raised concerns over the potential impact of ongoing conflict in the Middle East on the arrival of foreign aircraft.

Longinos assured there is an option to request support through European mechanisms, but questions remain over how quickly such assistance could be deployed if needed.

Efforts to strengthen preparedness are under way across multiple fronts, with surveillance systems being expanded to provide continuous monitoring in high-risk areas, while drones are expected to begin patrols from April.

Training is also being enhanced, with a specialised foreign team due to arrive in May to train firefighters in investigating the causes of forest fires.

Meteorological support is also being upgraded, with new forecasting tools set to provide five-day projections of temperature, wind and humidity, allowing authorities to convene coordination meetings up to 48 hours before high-risk conditions emerge.

The forestry department outlined a parallel increase in ground capacity, with 606 forest firefighters now in service alongside an expanded fleet of vehicles and machinery.

An additional 100 firefighters have been recruited over the past two years, although officials acknowledged ongoing understaffing in certain roles and the need to reopen training pathways to sustain numbers.

Preventive measures such as controlled burning and grazing have also been introduced to reduce fuel loads, reflecting a broader shift towards mitigation rather than response alone.

However, the effectiveness of these initiatives will depend on coordination across agencies that have previously struggled to align.

The urgency of that coordination was reinforced during a recent national meeting of all involved services, where deficiencies in preparedness were again highlighted.

Longinos stressed that while no system can fully control extreme natural disasters, adherence to national plans and timely cooperation between agencies are critical.

“The role we all have to play is vital, if the plans are followed, we will manage to deal with whatever comes.” he stressed.