Greek firefighting team arrives in Cyprus for the Prepositioning 2026 program

A 21-member team from the Special Unit for Disaster Relief (EMODE) of the Hellenic Fire Service arrived in Cyprus to participate in the European Prepositioning 2026 program. The team will remain in the country in a state of operational readiness from September 1 to September 15. This initiative marks the first time Cyprus has served as a host nation for such a foreign firefighting deployment.

The Forestry Department is overseeing the mission's operational coordination, supported by the Civil Defense. A specialized familiarization program has been established to integrate the Greek team with the local forestry firefighting system, including training on regional forest areas, fire protection infrastructure, and specific operational conditions unique to Cyprus. This European Union program, which has been in operation since 2022, aims to improve wildfire management by prepositioning personnel in high-risk areas to provide immediate assistance to national forces during critical periods.