Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus’ two firefighting aircraft are set to return to the island after assisting efforts to battle major wildfires in southwest France, head of the fire service Nikos Longinos said on Friday. Preparations for their return will begin immediately if fire conditions continue to improve, though the schedule could change if French authorities request further assistance.
Return preparations
Longinos said the Cypriot crews had made a significant contribution to firefighting efforts, helping contain the main fire front and tackle flare-ups. The aircraft have been operating from Perpignan airport, around 40 kilometres from the affected areas.
Cyprus readiness
Longinos said Cyprus can afford to send firefighting aircraft overseas while remaining fully prepared to respond to any wildfire emergencies at home. He said 11 firefighting aircraft are still based in Cyprus, alongside aircraft stationed at the British bases that can assist if needed.
Operational conditions
“We remain on standby 24 hours a day,” Longinos said. He added that the success of aerial firefighting depends on more than the number of aircraft available, with wind, terrain, vegetation, temperature and humidity all playing a major role in how quickly fires can be brought under control.
European mechanism
Longinos said that even countries such as France and Spain, which operate more than 100 firefighting aircraft, can struggle to contain large wildfires under difficult conditions. The two air tractors sent to France are part of the European Union’s rescEU Civil Protection Mechanism.