An announcement was made by the Fire Service in response to the article published in the newspaper Politis, dated 04.06.2022.

The announcement follows:

On the occasion of an article published in the newspaper Politis dated 04.06.2022, which referred to a Firefighter who was asked to pay for not handing over, as he was required to, the metal registration numbers of his uniform, the Fire Service reports the following: 

1. Each Firefighter, upon his recruitment, on the basis of a relevant Order issued by the Head of the Service, is charged for his personal equipment and clothing, both under his responsibility, while he has the obligation to deliver the said equipment to the Service when requested, or upon his retirement. 
2. As the Fire Service has become autonomous, the said personal equipment (metal registration numbers) was requested as it had to be returned to the Police. 
3. In a circular, the Chief of the Fire Service informed the personnel of the Service about the need to return the metal registration numbers, in order to hand them over to the Police. 
4. All personnel in Cyprus responded to the instructions of the Chief, except for the specific Firefighter, who stubbornly refused to hand over the equipment in question, claiming that he lost it in an incident that took place 26 (twenty-six) years ago in Larnaca. 
5. The Fire Service considers that the said Firefighter did not act according to the Laws and Regulations of the Service, as he should have declared the loss of the said equipment immediately after the incident to his Officers, as well as the conditions under which he lost it; not after 26 years, when he was asked to return it. In addition, during these 26 years, this member of ours was obliged to declare the loss of his equipment, during the uniform and equipment inspections, which are carried out on the basis of a specific Order, at least twice a year. 
6. The Directorate of the Fire Service, receives daily, through the Provinces, requests of its members regarding the damage or loss of their personal equipment and it by no means leaves its personnel’s requests unaddressed, provided that they are sufficiently justified. 
7. Although the said Firefighter apologized to the Directorate of the Fire Service, we consider his initiative to publish a purely internal issue of the Fire Service superficial, referring also to the Minister of Justice and Public Order, who is not involved in such matters, as this could be internally managed by the Fire Service. In addition, his reference to the heroes of Mari is equally superficial and unacceptable, stressing such a sensitive issue and identifying the loss of his personal equipment with people who sacrificed their lives while on duty. 
8. The Fire Service, as a Disciplined Security Body, is always next to the citizens and proudly next to its members, who are exemplary and respect the principles and institutions of the Service and do not allow anyone to tarnish its name. As a result of the above, orders were given by the Chief of the Service regarding the preparation of reports by the members involved and their submission to the Director of Administration. 

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