Cyprus has so far been successful in protecting its forest this summer by mobilising increased forces to extinguish even the tiniest fire and raising awareness among the public, forestry department director Savvas Ezekiel said on Thursday.

Speaking to CNA, he said the department has evaluated the situation so far and concluded that “we are doing well”.

Ezekiel stressed that citizens’ awareness and assistance in identifying and extinguishing fires is of key importance. He said members of the public have been particularly helpful in the fight to protecting forests, either by alerting authorities or even taking action themselves,

Currently, the forestry department is fully prepared to deal with and extinguish any fire as soon as it breaks out.

Even a notification of smoke in an area sparks immediate mobilisations of the maximum number of people who can get on board, and all resources and means are utilised, he said.

From then on, firefighting aircrafts and helicopters are set on alert so that they can take off immediately, adding that the forest districts and stations that are close to the fire are all moving towards the point and not only with manpower, but also with tankers and earth movers.

“It seems that so far we are doing quite well and most of the fires do not have time to develop and are extinguished in the beginning and it is confirmed by the results we have had in the last two months.”

Asked if the investigation into the causes of the fires shows that they are accidental or the result of intent and malicious acts, Ezekiel said that every day there are fires being put out, some of which are intentional, but are dealt with before they develop.

“There are cases where some material has been thrown, which we have identified and the police are looking into, as well as fires resulting from mistakes and accidents,” he explained.

Ezekiel shared an incident which unfolded in the Polis Chrysochous area, where drivers spotted a fire starting.

A total of 20 vehicles stopped and dragged out whatever water they had on them to obliterate the flames before they spread.

The fire was caused either by a cigarette butt or solid carbon particles from a car exhaust, he said.

“People help a lot and recognise the dangers of a large fire.”

A fire never starts big, but from a small spark developing and wreaking havoc, as has been seen in Greece’s recent fires, Ezekiel added.

Anyone who sees smoke or fire is asked to call the forestry department at 1407 or the emergency line at 112.

“There should be no delay whatsoever in informing us.”