Greek firefighting team assists in Cyprus wildfire operations

On September 15, 2026, a Greek firefighting team currently stationed in Cyprus participated in their first active mission to extinguish a wildfire in the Arsos community. The team is in Cyprus under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism’s 'Prepositioning 2026' initiative, which aims to enhance regional cooperation during the fire season.

Prior to the incident, the Greek unit had been conducting a familiarization program organized by the Cyprus Department of Forests. This program included visits to the Tripylos fire lookout, the Stavros tis Psokas forest station, and the Paphos Forest area to study the region's unique topography, fire surveillance infrastructure, and road networks. The transition from training to active duty occurred while the team was returning to the Platania forest station, where they are based, following an urgent request for support from the Cyprus Fire Service.

The firefighting effort involved a combined force consisting of 4 officials and 20 firefighters from the Department of Forests, supported by 6 fire trucks and one water tanker. No further incidents or follow-up actions were announced, and the mission marked the unit's first operational deployment since arriving in the country.