Τεύχος 3, Σεπτέμβριος 2007

Comment on the Saittas Fire by One of the Victims
Interview given by Mr. Adrian Akers Douglas

Terra Cypria Board member Adrian Akers-Douglas was among the homeowners whose property has been destroyed by the fire. "Little or no attempt was made to intervene to protect these properties," he said. Akers-Douglas said he had no doubts regarding "the capability, dedication, and the bravery of those professionals and volunteers who were taking part in the operation" but had "grave reservations" about the way they were organised. "It seems incredible that camera crews could get to the buildings and film them burning, but that there was no attempt being made to prevent the blaze from reaching those properties in the first place. There are roads and tracks that would have allowed even urban fire-engines to access the site within less than a minute of where they were gathered but inactive."

Commenting on the gathering of senior officials in Troodos while the fire was blazing, Akers-Douglas said "politicians had no role during the crucial 'containment' phase of a natural disaster but only during the 'relief' phase, because their presence means that elements of the operational teams - and probably senior members at that - have to be deployed to look after them, brief them, and generally pay attention to them." During the containment phase the primary task should be to ensure no one got hurt. "Thereafter, the priority should be the protection of property, agriculture, and the forest. If there had been a small, effective command-and-control team, headed by someone professionally qualified to take the necessary decisions, I am sure that men and equipment could have been deployed at the area of the destroyed houses in time to save some or all of them."

He said the whole incident and how it had been handled raised questions about the island's preparedness for civil catastrophes. "The most likely threats come from forest fires and earthquakes. There is a smaller threat posed by tsunamis or tornadoes, but since both of these would involve the destruction of physical infrastructure, they could be considered under the 'earthquake' heading."

Akers-Douglas suggested the establishment of two immediate response teams, one for fires and one for earthquakes. "The Forest Fire team should be headed by someone experienced in the field of wildfires, empowered to take quick decisions. The members could consist of senior representatives from the Fire Service, Police, Forestry and Water Departments, and the National Guard. The team should be small, so that it can be deployed near to the site quickly. It should if possible have a command-and-control vehicle available with facilities for coordinating information as the situation develops, and most importantly comprehensive radio and telephone communications facilities, so that the Immediate Response team can communicate with the forces deployed at the fire-front and direct them effectively." He also mentioned the choice of using only water for fire fighting purposes, whatever the terrain. The use of beaters is known to be very effective in low growth open fields.

A pilot himself, Akers-Douglas is fully aware of how important it is to conduct regular practices of simulated emergencies so as to be prepared should the real thing ever occur. "Exercises and drills should be held, to ensure, for example, that the various elements (fire service, police, ambulance service, National Guard, helicopters and aircraft) are able to work and communicate with each other and if foreign assistance is likely to be needed, that there is a common language which can be used." He said the 'Earthquake' team could be similarly composed, but perhaps headed by someone with structural engineering know-how. "Most importantly, these Immediate Response teams should be able to assemble on or close to the affected site very quickly. This might involve the use of National Guard or Police helicopters. He said response time was crucial when fires or earthquakes struck and for the same reason it is important to have a core of local volunteers who are trained, equipped and know what to do.

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