Above: three Israeli single engine air tankers have arrived in Cyprus to assist firefighters. Photo by Israel Foreign Ministry.
The government of Israel sent three single engine air tankers (SEATs) and a support aircraft to assist Cyprus in suppressing large fires near Paphos and Evrychou. Cyprus has also asked Greece for assistance.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said at his Sunday Cabinet meeting:
Several years ago, during the massive [2010] Carmel fire, I contacted the President of Cyprus, he was the first I turned to, and the Prime Minister of Greece, that they should send firefighting aircraft. They had one such aircraft. They took it out of its hangar and sent it here. Last night I ordered that three of our firefighting aircraft, out of our fleet of 13 or 14, be sent to help them, and the planes are now in Cyprus. This is part of the regional arrangement we have made with Cyprus and Greece about emergency assistance. I am pleased that we are able to extend this assistance.
Related articles:
- Israel has a fleet of 14 SEATs, Air Tractor AT 802s supplied by Elbit Systems and Chim Nir Flight Services.
- Articles on Wildfire Today about the 2010 Carmel Fire in Israel that killed 40 government employees.
- The United States sent a great deal of firefighting aid to Israel to assist with the Carmel Fire in 2010 including aircraft and an incident management team, but much of it arrived after the spread of the fire had been stopped, or was turned around while en route.