The devastating wildfire in Limassol once again highlighted the enormous contribution of volunteer firefighters, in some cases their interventions were even lifesaving. At the same time, however, it also exposed serious gaps in the framework that governs their role, gaps which, officials say, must be filled without delay.
The striking images that circulated online, spontaneous interventions by groups of volunteers with water trucks and tractors, are precisely what the Civil Defence intends to eliminate through a bill it is preparing to submit to parliament this autumn. The goal is for all volunteers to act under the authority and guidance of Civil Defence, in a more organised and coordinated way, without endangering themselves or hindering the work of professional firefighting crews.
At the same time, preparations are under way to end the current split between volunteer groups operating under the Fire Service and those under the Forestry Department. All will be brought under the umbrella of Civil Defence, which, within the framework of the National Civil Protection Mechanism, will be transformed into a General Civil Protection Directorate.
These points were underlined to Politis by the head of Civil Defence, Maria Papa, who said the bill, which forms part of the legislative package of the National Civil Protection Mechanism, is now at the stage of internal discussion within Civil Defence. Once experts have reviewed it, the text will be finalised in early September, then passed to the Interior Ministry for internal and public consultation before reaching parliament.
Numbers and limits
Beyond the issue of spontaneous volunteer interventions, both Civil Defence and firefighting services are concerned about the sheer number of volunteers. According to Ms Papa, no matter how well trained volunteers may be, during a crisis it is extremely difficult for a fire officer to manage and supervise them effectively.
This point was also stressed to Politis by the director of the Forestry Department, Savvas Iezekiel, when asked about AKEL’s recent initiative to contribute volunteer firefighting groups made up of its members and supporters, a plan to be launched after the fire season ends. He explained that such initiatives, like those of other organised groups, must be carefully designed and limited in scale. Groups should not exceed around 20 people, he said, as the Department cannot coordinate larger numbers in the middle of a blaze.
Already, volunteer groups trained by the Forestry Department exist, but each is limited to just 8–10 members.
Ms Papa added that registering many volunteers is not necessarily negative, since not all will be available in a crisis. “They are private individuals with jobs and other obligations. If you have a list of 600, in the end you might only manage to gather 100,” she noted.
Duties of volunteers
Another key issue concerns what duties volunteers should be assigned. Mr Iezekiel clarified that, after training, their role should be in the “second line” of operations, as set out in protocol: patrolling and monitoring for flare-ups, transporting hoses and equipment over long distances, and other supporting tasks.
These responsibilities will be codified in the new bill currently being prepared by Civil Defence, and will be subject to public consultation in the coming months.
Under one umbrella
Another reform will end the current split in volunteer structures, with some groups under the Fire Service and others under the Forestry Department. According to Ms Papa, the new bill will bring all under Civil Defence.
One major reason is that the Fire Service has found it problematic to manage volunteer groups directly, since they distract professional firefighters at critical moments. “We discussed the issue with Fire Chief Nikos Longinos, who conveyed the difficulties they face. They prefer that all volunteers be under our umbrella, so that we can organise them with our own teams, and so firefighting services know they are available as one coordinated force,” Ms Papa said.
Spontaneous interventions
Regarding spontaneous volunteer actions, she stressed that under the new regulations, individuals will not be allowed to simply show up at fire scenes. They must be registered with Civil Defence, present certification of their training, and wear uniforms with clear insignia confirming their status. This way, the operational commander on the ground knows they are trained and certified, and can assign them appropriate tasks.
“The aim is exactly to eliminate these spontaneous interventions. Volunteers should arrive at fire scenes in an organised and coordinated way,” she explained.
Current role in forest firefighting, No involvement in major fronts
For now, the Forestry Department applies a specific protocol on how volunteers are used in forest firefighting. Their role is defined as auxiliary and supportive, covering two main areas: prevention (patrolling, observation, awareness campaigns) and involvement in small or medium fire incidents (securing fire perimeters, guarding against flare-ups, supporting forestry firefighting teams, and assisting with logistics and meals).
Direct involvement in active firefighting is strictly limited to specialised and properly trained volunteers. The protocol explicitly states that “under no circumstances do volunteers engage in the suppression of major fire fronts.”
Volunteer groups can take part in suppression of fire incidents only with the approval of the director of the Forestry Department or their representative. Their duties may include:
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Perimeter monitoring and security: supervising areas after a blaze is extinguished, detecting and putting out small flare-ups, or creating firebreaks.
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Support for firefighting operations: transporting hoses and other equipment.
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Logistical support: assisting in the supply of drinking water and food for firefighting personnel.
Each group is always accompanied and guided by a designated officer, they are never divided into subgroups, and receive instructions only from that officer. Volunteers must also wear appropriate approved clothing and footwear.