Kapedes, Cyprus. A coordinated forest fire response exercise will take place over the Troodos village of Kapedes tomorrow between 11.00am and 12.00pm, involving aircraft and ground units in a planned operational drill.
Exercise ‘Ifestos’ and objectives
The forestry department said the exercise, named ‘Ifestos’ after the ancient Greek god of fire, will be conducted as part of national preparedness planning. The department said the aim is to test the effectiveness of ‘Ifestos’ for suppressing a large forest fire and to improve coordination between services involved in wildfire response.
Participating units
The drill will include fire engines, personnel transport vehicles, water tankers, ambulances and aerial firefighting units, alongside staff from the fire brigade and volunteer groups.
Public guidance
Authorities said the exercise is intended to strengthen operational readiness and improve interagency cooperation in handling large scale wildfire incidents. The forestry department said the activity is a scheduled simulation and that there is “absolutely no reason for concern for the public” during the exercise period.
What should residents expect to see and hear in Kapedes during the exercise period?