Cyprus Hosts Greek Firefighting Team as Wildfire Risk Persists Into September

Greek Reinforcements Arrive for September Alert Period

Cyprus is hosting a 21-member team from the Hellenic Fire Brigade for the first time this year, with the unit on operational alert on the island through the first half of September as the wildfire season continues.

Part of an EU-Wide Rapid Response Scheme

The deployment falls under the European Union's pre-deployment programme, which has operated since 2022 and allows member states to send firefighting resources to one another during periods of heightened wildfire danger, giving countries extra capacity precisely when local risk peaks.

Cyprus Forestry Department Coordinates the Mission

The mission is being coordinated by Cyprus' forestry department with joint support from the civil defence agency. As part of the arrangement, the visiting Greek crews are undergoing familiarisation training on local forest firefighting systems and alert procedures, ensuring they can integrate smoothly with Cypriot units if called out.

Wider Context of a Demanding Fire Season

The visit comes after a summer in which Cyprus repeatedly raised its wildfire threat level and drew on international support to manage conditions on the ground. Bringing in specialised outside teams during the riskiest weeks has become a recurring feature of the island's approach to forest fire preparedness in recent fire seasons.