Polis fire fears

By George Rossides

AUTHORITIES in Polis Chrysochous, have expressed serious concern at what they warn are severe shortcomings in the area’s fire-fighting facilities.

At present, the Polis fire station is equipped with only one vehicle and manned by only one permanent fireman, with eight amateur volunteers that are called from other jobs whenever they are needed. The technical equipment available for the men at the station is incomplete, and insufficient to guarantee the security of the firemen in the line of duty.

Polis Mayor Michalakis Korakas said yesterday the fire protection provided in the Polis area was “virtually non-existent”.

He said that in four incidents in the past eight months, the livelihoods of four families had gone up in smoke due to the delayed response of the fire services in the area, which in one case took 45 minutes to arrive.

The Polis fire station covers not only the area around the town, but also “50 more adjoining villages enveloped in thick vegetation that could go up in flames very easily,” Korakas said, adding it was impossible for the local fire services to respond effectively to more than one call at a time”.

Plans have been made to build a new fire station in the area, but despite the prompt land expropriation by Polis authorities, and the securing of the funds needed for the project, the start of works has been delayed.

A Fire Brigade spokesman said yesterday the blueprints of the new station were ready, and works would begin as soon as possible.

He added that for the time being the fire prevention needs of the area were dealt with in association with the Forestry Department, the Paphos station and other agrarian fire substations.

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