Limassol, Cyprus. SafeIsland CY, a free mobile application for iOS and Android, has been launched to help people in Cyprus report signs of wildfires, receive nearby alerts and access fire-safety information through an interactive map.
Developed by Brickworks Games under the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative, the app was presented publicly on July 23 at The Warehouse by IT Quarter in Limassol.
Community reporting and safety information
Vladimir Polianskii, chief marketing officer of Brickworks Games, described SafeIsland CY as a public-safety tool that combines wildfire reporting, local alerts and fire-related information on a single interactive map.
The community-powered application is intended particularly for residents in rural, mountain and high-risk areas, where early local information can be significant.
Polianskii said information can be fragmented during the first minutes of a wildfire, while nearby residents may notice smoke, blocked roads or changing wind conditions before they become widely known. He also noted that many residents and visitors may not know the location of the nearest fire station, forest post or water point.
Reporting features
SafeIsland CY combines community reports from people on the ground with an interactive fire-safety map covering locations across Cyprus.
Users can report smoke or fire by placing a pin on the map, adding a photograph or short description, and submitting the report. People in the surrounding area receive a push notification and can view active reports on the map.
The app is designed to provide users with local observations and map information while they are at home, travelling, in rural areas or near mountain regions.