An update from the Ministry of Defence regarding the findings of the completed investigation into the wildfire that broke out at the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca may emerge before the end of the week.
The fire erupted following the destruction of munitions during a training activity involving a US Army unit. Brigadier Savvas Stefanou, who had been appointed as investigating officer, yesterday submitted the report he prepared to the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, "the Chief of the National Guard will study the contents of the report and, by the end of the current week, will present it to the Minister of Defence. Further information will be provided after completion of the relevant procedure."
Interest, however, is focused on the outcome of the investigation and whether the report identifies responsibility and, most importantly, who may be held responsible. As became known, the training activity had been planned and approved by all departments of the General Staff of the National Guard (GEEF). In other words, everyone was aware that on that specific day the destruction of munitions using explosives would take place at the Kalo Chorio firing range.
Meeting with communities
Representatives of neighbouring communities expressed deep concern and anxiety regarding the continued operation of the National Guard firing range at Kalo Chorio, Larnaca, following the devastating wildfire of 27 July, during an extraordinary meeting held on the afternoon of Tuesday, 4 August, at the offices of the Psevdas Community Council.
The meeting was attended by the communities of the Agia Anna cluster, Kalo Chorio, Psevdas, Mosfiloti and Pyrga, the Larnaca Union of Communities, the local District Local Government Organisation, and Members of Parliament from Larnaca.
Participants discussed the serious problems highlighted by the major wildfire, which originated at the Kalo Chorio firing range during the disposal of National Guard munitions.
Community authorities remain alarmed following the latest fire, which destroyed 120 hectares of land and threatened homes and properties in surrounding communities.
They agreed, however, that they would announce any decisions only after a second meeting on the issue with the Minister of Defence, which has been scheduled for September.
A statement from the Larnaca Union of Communities said that discussions during the latest meeting focused on the safety of local residents, the protection of their properties and the natural environment from mistakes made by those responsible from time to time, as well as the destructive wildfire of 27 July, which, it noted, left behind not only ashes and burned land but also many unanswered questions that the competent authorities have an obligation to answer convincingly.
The president of the Tremithos River Community Cluster, Stavroulla Vasileiou, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the communities had received a number of assurances from the competent minister and from the Chief of the National Guard regarding the operation of the Kalo Chorio firing range during the first meeting that took place immediately after the outbreak of the fire.
She added that the communities would await the second meeting, expected around mid-September, before making decisions on how the affected communities would proceed from that point forward.
Vasileiou further stressed that both the ministry and the National Guard should take very seriously the fact that "the safety of residents is not negotiable."
During the meeting in Psevdas, Larnaca MPs also expressed their intention to register the issue for discussion before the relevant parliamentary committee.
