Firefighters from the British Bases and 84 Squadron took part in the Cyprus Fire Service’s Pyrsos exercise on Wednesday, as part of the annual joint fire safety training. According to a statement from the Bases, the exercise, which took place in Kyvides, in Limassol, simulated an agroforestry fire RoC firefighting aircraft work alongside, the British Bases and Jordan, who provided two helicopters and Slovenia as observers. It is added that Puma helicopters from 84 Squadron provided rainmaker support and members of Defence Fire and Rescue (DFR) were on the ground in a liaison capacity and offering expert advice. Speaking shortly after Fire Exercise, the DFR Episkopi Station Manager, Aristos Aristeidou said the exercise included scenarios of wildfire near a residential area and provided a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices, not only between the two fire services but with all emergency services in the RoC, and also helped to identify gaps and challenges in the current firefighting procedures and equipment, which will be addressed before the beginning of the hot season. He added that it was also a great opportunity for our new on island helicopter fleet – Puma – to work on its aerial firefighting along with all the other RoC flight units and helped strengthen the existing excellent relationship between BFC and the RoC, it enhanced our interoperability and communication skills, while promoting regional cooperation and mutual understanding. For his part, RoC Fire Service Press Officer and Public Relations Representative Andreas Kettis said that the exercise, which is under the supervision, administrative and operational coordination of the Cyprus Fire Service, is conducted within the framework of the preparation of the firefighting summer season and aims to establish the operational readiness and coordination of all ‘Repression Services, adding that this joint exercise also sees the RoC implement the IKAROS Plan, which in real-time is a multi-nation firefighting operation. He added that the goal of the exercise during which the ‘IKAROS PLAN’ is activated, is to involve all aerial forces of the Cyprus Republic, DFR and 84 Squadron of the British Bases in Cyprus, as well as the two aerial means of the neighbouring friendly country of Jordan, together with ground forces of all Services that will be involved in extinguishing fires during the firefighting season. He also said that apart from the Cyprus Fire Service and the Forest Department, Repression Services of the Cyprus Republic in such fires are the National Guard, the Police, the Civil Defence, District Administration Offices, the Game and Fauna Service, Community Councils and Volunteer Firefighting Teams, while help and support in extinguishing such fires every year is being provided by DFR from the British Bases, with the contribution of ground and especially aerial forces by 84 Squadron.
Source: Cyprus News Agency