Shemaine Bushnell Kyriakides
Another summer, another wildfire, and once again, the Cyprus government seems utterly unprepared.
Every year we’re told to expect the worst. And every year the worst happens, and somehow, the government acts like it’s the first time. Are we really supposed to believe that officials were caught off guard by the fact that July, the hottest month of the year, might bring dangerous fires?
''Accountability delayed is accountability denied''
The MET Department even got it right this time, warning days ago that this week would likely be the hottest of the year. We’ve had scorching temperatures for days. There have already been smaller fires. The warning signs were flashing in every direction. And yet, here we are. Watching villages burn, homes destroyed, animals lost, properties destroyed, and people crying on TV because no one came to help in time.
Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis went on state TV and said, “This is not the time to assign blame.” According to him, the focus should be on putting out the fire and preventing more casualties and losses.
But for residents who lost everything, that answer doesn’t cut it.
People are rightfully furious. Community leaders and citizens alike are publicly criticizing the government’s sluggish and disorganized response. The problem isn’t just the fire; it’s the fact that once again, there was no real plan to prevent or contain it. You don’t need a political science degree to know that high temperatures, strong winds, and dry brush are a recipe for disaster. The only people who seem surprised by this are the ones in charge.
When do we talk about accountability, if not now? Do we need an incident like in Mati, Greece to scare us straight?
So let’s talk about strategy. Or rather, the lack of one.
In Paralimni, they’ve deployed a high-tech AI system that can detect smoke from 15 kilometers away. Fifteen kilometers! That’s nearly the width of the island in some areas. If a machine can spot smoke, why can’t human authorities? This island isn’t that big. If smoke is rising, someone should be seeing it, fast.
Even if a fire starts from something as common as a backyard BBQ, this is exactly the time of year when vigilance should be highest. Where are the aerial patrols? Why aren’t police helicopters flying over vulnerable areas daily? Why haven’t mobile firefighting units been stationed in the forests, ready to respond immediately?
Better yet, involve the public. Cypriots have proven, again, they’re willing to help. Volunteers rushed to shelters to save animals. Others assisted with evacuations. Give them a framework, basic training, and clear instructions. We don’t need more press conferences; we need a real plan.
And what are the police doing right now? Issuing the occasional parking ticket? Even that’s questionable, given the daily chaos on our roads. Why can’t extra officers be patrolling fire-prone mountain areas? And if, as the Justice Minister might claim, there aren’t enough police, which is hard to believe, then send in academy students. They’d welcome the experience, and it’s valuable, hands-on training. Aren’t the police supposed to “protect and serve”? That includes serving communities in crisis.
And while we’re at it, what about the army? Couldn’t they be mobilized before the fact to assist in brush clearing and aerial monitoring? Didn’t we just acquire new military attack helicopters? Why not repurpose them, at least temporarily, for civilian use, like aerial patrols to detect fires before they spread? And speaking of those helicopters, couldn’t that money have been better spent on firefighting equipment or early detection systems? Who are we supposed to be attacking, anyway? But that’s a whole other conversation.
A woman in Vouni, whose home was engulfed by flames, sobbed on television as she shared that she had lost her pets, her only family. Two people are dead. In Vouni, one of the hardest-hit villages, more than 100 homes have been destroyed, and the numbers are still rising. We still don’t know how many animals perished or how many properties were lost. But one thing is certain: we’ve heard this story before.
To the government of Cyprus, here’s a free starter kit for future fire seasons:
- Strictly ban high-risk activity during extreme heat. No open flames. No grinding machinery in dry fields. No excuses.
- Deploy ground firefighting units before the fire breaks out. Position them in forests and vulnerable zones.
- Use the firefighting airplanes you announced earlier this year. Did we actually get them?
- Have police patrol high-risk areas and assist, not just fine and file reports. This is about presence, not paperwork.
- Tap into public goodwill. Citizens are ready to help; encourage the volunteer spirit and give them a role to protect their communities.
The winds were increasing yesterday. Even a layman could tell you that spells danger. But once again, officials didn’t act fast enough.
Enough is enough.
Stop treating wildfires like they’re unpredictable. They’re not. They’re a known, annual threat, and the government’s repeated failure to plan ahead is costing lives, homes, and trust.
So yes, Mr. Minister, this is the time to place blame. Because accountability delayed is accountability denied. And Cyprus deserves better.
