Fire Response
Debate rages as to how to characterise the State's response to the fire. Why did it grow so big? Travel so fast? Destroy so much? Why no warning? Why? What? How?
There's a huge amount of emotion about, and I have no doubt that lessons should be learned, and systems improved. I can only speak to my experience of the fire.
Nobody told us to evacuate. Perhaps we had gone before anybody came. I think the authorities communicated through state TV and radio stations - and frankly, very few people in our community would have the means or the desire to receive that media. Alarm and alert systems could surely be better.
Heroes
Firefighters. I'm biased. Someone came into my property and fought the flames, saving my house. Whether regular or volunteer, that person is a hero to me. Throughout this week, I've been amazed by the fire teams. They've been everywhere, all the time. I can only imagine how long and arduous their shifts have been.
Civil Defence. These are volunteers, who get training in disaster management. Two found us in the beach bar and gave us details of where we could find emergency rations and accommodation if we needed them.
Citizens. Anyone with a twin cab volunteered. As refugees streamed down the mountain, volunteers streamed up.
The Mukhtar and his team. On Friday, there were masses of clothes organised by size outside the community office. They had a generator up and running and a container trailer full of food and water. The Mukhtar was on the phone non-stop, straining every fibre to get resources for the village.
The businesses and communities of Cyprus. Supermarkets were donating food, drink and vouchers. Any company with a staff was sending teams of people to help in any way they could. Sports clubs sent their teams to help with clear ups. Risk assessors were on site on Thursday, finding out what people needed in what order.
The residents had, by Friday night set up a checkpoint to control night access to the village and patrols to keep the houses safe. Working with the police, they saw off several suspicious vehicles. Some of these guys, Israelis and Russians, had fought the fire, saving their neighbours houses.
Yin and Yang
Why someone set the fire intentionally is beyond me, but surely the worst of humanity is to set out to destroy with no regard for one's fellow humans. I will never forget the sight of a mother, each arm over the shoulder of a child, sobbing as she regarded the rubble where her house used to stand. Nor can I remove from my mind the horror of being burned alive in a car, trying to escape.
On the other hand, to see Cyprus swing into action was truly inspiring. People working from dawn until dusk, day after day, just getting stuff done.
On Sunday evening, I was able to watch the climax of England's women's football team retain the European Championship. Four days after evacuating, I was back in my house, with electricity restored and fresh water flowing into my tanks. That is absolutely astonishing. Just for a second, I ask you to consider how you would put up a telegraph pole. The material and machinery required. You need a vehicle to get the pole to the right place. Then you need a hole (if the original one is damaged). How do you get the old one out? How do you put the new one in? How do you get to that one over there? In the bondu, hundreds of metres from any track or road? It's a massive undertaking requiring multiple vehicles, machines and humans.
Administration
Today, (Tuesday), we're frustrated. We have been asked not to start repairing the damage incurred until the government has logged the detail, so we await an inspector. Part of the house is without electricity, because of damage done to external lights on the terrace. The pergola is staying up through willpower alone, and we're keen to get it demolished and cleaned up. It's testament to the rapidity of response to date that a short delay becomes irksome.
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