Cyprus is getting ready for the summer fire season. However, there are worries about the island's ability to fight fires from the air. This could make it harder to stop big wildfires. Problems with buying new aircraft and world problems are making it difficult for Cyprus to be ready. This is especially true for the countryside and mountain areas.
The island needs four important firefighting helicopters. But these helicopters are stuck in rules and legal problems. Because of appeals and court cases, the helicopters cannot be used. This delay makes it hard for the Fire Service to plan. It creates a big problem during a time when fires are more likely.
Two more helicopters were promised by Jordan. However, the war in Iran has stopped them from coming. This makes the island's air power even weaker. Cyprus needs help from other countries. But outside problems can stop this help from arriving. Two EU planes are on the island. However, they might be needed by other countries. So, they are not a sure thing.
A company that was supposed to help with air firefighting has warned the government. They said they might not be able to keep their helicopters and workers ready for Cyprus. This is because a contract has not been signed yet. The company might send its planes to other countries. This would leave Cyprus with even fewer resources.
The Chief Fire Officer, Nikos Logginos, shared some numbers. In 2025, the Fire Service dealt with over 13,000 incidents. More than 7,000 of these were fires. Fires in the countryside increased by almost 9%. Also, there is a problem at night. Fire stations in the country close in the evening. This means many fires happen between 7 pm and 8 am.
The Fire Service is trying to do more. They plan to use private drones to watch for fires. New sensors have also been put in place at factories and forests. They are also hiring more staff. New fire engines are being bought. Smoke detectors are being installed. Fire stations are being updated. A new center to manage incidents is now working. It received money from the EU.
However, the main worry is still about fighting fires from the air. If the contract problems are not solved quickly, Cyprus will be more at risk. This could be very bad for nature, the economy, and people's safety.