Wildfire: how to protect yourself in Cyprus

Report a fire

If you see smoke or flames, call immediately. The sooner the emergency services know, the smaller the fire stays.

• Call 112 or the Department of Forests on 1407
• Describe the location as precisely as possible: village, road, landmarks
• Do not try to put it out yourself once the fire is spreading

Before the fire season

• Clear dry grass, leaves and branches around your house
• Keep a garden hose and buckets ready
• Pack an emergency bag with water, medication, documents and a charging cable
• Know two ways out of your area
• Do not light fires outdoors in heat and wind. Barbecues and burning are often banned during the fire season, so check the local rules

When a fire is nearby

• Follow instructions from the fire service, police and civil defence
• If you are told to evacuate, leave immediately
• Close windows and doors and set the air conditioning to recirculate
• Avoid smoke: stay low and cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth
• In the car: windows closed, lights on, drive slowly and never into thick smoke
• Keep the roads clear for emergency vehicles

After the fire

• Only return when the authorities say it is safe
• Watch out for hot spots, damaged power lines and unstable trees
• Do not stir up ash and wear a mask while cleaning up

How CyWarn helps

CyWarn reports satellite fire detections from NASA FIRMS and EUMETSAT, plus EFFIS data, for your district. Satellites do not detect every small fire and sometimes report other heat sources. If you see a fire, always call yourself.