The Fire Brigade’s 25th annual fire safety week kicked off on Monday with Justice Minister Costas Fitiris pointing out the need for better coordination between services and departments, and a sense of responsibility among the public, to prevent a disaster similar to the Limassol wildfires of 2025.

The fire safety week, under the slogan Let’s Not Let Our Dreams Turn to Ashes, includes lectures, training civilians to recognise dangers and raising awareness among the public.

Fitiris said that in his 40 years of service, what stood out for officials visiting Cyprus was the speed with which services and departments came together when summoned.

“What remains to be improved is the coordination,” he added.

The minister pointed out it was imperative to “protect human life, property and the natural environment, which demanded timely planning, being continuously on alert and collective action”.

“The speed of response and cooperation are of decisive importance, however addressing fires effectively is not just up to the state and its services, but is everyone’s responsibility so that we do not repeat the tragic developments of the Limassol wildfire in 2025,” Fitiris said.

Fire service chief Nicos Longinos said firefighters were called on to tackle about 13,000 incidents every year, 8,500 of which are fires, mostly in rural areas.

“The common characteristic of these fires is that over 90 per cent are caused by human intervention,” he said.

Longinos referred to the changing environment, mainly through the climate crisis and technology, which altered the operational scope of the service. To respond effectively, it was continuously upgrading equipment and training firefighters.

During the event, members of the public Savvas Savva, Panayiotis Isidorou and Menelaos Christofides were presented honourary plaques for their response to fires and other emergencies.

Savva coordinates fire lookouts and voluntarily supports incidents and emergencies, mainly in Tseri and Alona. During fires, he provides support to firefighting crews.

Addressing the event, Savva said the ideal would be for fire safety week to be continued all year round and stressed the need for prevention.

Isidorou is a Game Fund employee who noticed a fire in a Larnaca flat, entered the burning building and brought the elderly owner and her domestic aide to safety.

Christofides has been supporting firefighters over the years and places his agricultural vehicles at their disposal and operated machinery, including during the Limassol wildfire in 2025.

The week’s events will culminate on April 25 with an open day at Paphos’ mediaeval castle from 10am till 3pm.