Fire service hits back at Kalavasos community leader comments

After the Kalavasos community leader accused the fire service of passivity in their response to the fire that broke out at the waste treatment plant in Pentakomo on Friday, the department hit back on Tuesday, calling the remarks inaccurate.

“It’s with surprise and regret that we heard Kalavasos community leader Lefteris Fokas’ inaccurate comments to the media referring to the fire service’s passivity,” the department said.

The announcement also explained the circumstances of its decision to employ certain methods and to involve other authorities in the operation.

“Upon arrival, the first respondents assessed the risks both towards its own personnel and towards the citizens near the area. Following that, all state services and competent authorities were mobilised with each assuming their relevant role,” it said.

“In addition, the service after evaluating the fire’s dynamic, volume and nature of materials in the area in conjunction with decades of experience decided to cooperate with other competent authorities to cover the fire with soil since pouring large amounts of water or foam would cause a slowdown in the fire’s quenching,” it added.

It further states that “just as the Kalavasos community leader knows how to manage local governmental matters and obviously will not accept instructions on how to do that, so the fire department does not accept instructions on how to manage the extinguishing of fires.”

Regarding the demand for establishing a fire department in the Vasilikos area expressed by the nine Vasiliko communities, it is mentioned that the station is being handed today but caution is expressed as to its potential contribution.

“The Vasilikos fire station is being handed to the department today and will operate the soonest possible,” the department said.

“Before Mr. Fokas makes any statements to the media concerning the fire department, it is best to get in touch with us to cross reference his information first,” it concluded.