Defence Minister, National Guard chief apologise over Kalo Chorio firing range fire

Local fireLarnacanational guardTop News Defence Minister, National Guard chief apologise over Kalo Chorio firing range fire Defence Minister, National Guard Chief Apologise Over Kalo Chorio Firing Range Fire Relevant News Defence Minister, National Guard chief apologise over Kalo Chorio firing range fire 31 July 2026 Vyras accuses Government of stinginess over municipal funding 31 July 2026 Sooshi Mango bring ‘Home Made World Tour’ to Nicosia 31 July 2026 Andreas Pogiatzi 31 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas and National Guard Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Emmanouil Theodorou, met for more than an hour today with community leaders from Agia Anna, Kalo Chorio, Psevdas, Mosfiloti and Pyrga in Larnaca district, over the fire that broke out on Monday, July 27 at the Kalo Chorio firing range during a National Guard training exercise, which spread and threatened the surrounding communities. Palmas outlined measures the government will take to help the communities recover from the fire and to improve safety for residents around the firing range. He apologised again to the communities for the disruption caused by the fire, saying: “We had a constructive meeting in a friendly atmosphere,” adding that the communities had raised all their longstanding concerns about the firing range. On next steps, Palmas said a roadmap had been agreed and that some measures for residents’ safety would be taken immediately. He said the government would: Proceed with immediate compensation Examine wider compensatory measures for the area Hold a new joint meeting with community leaders to review progress on what had been agreed Palmas thanked community leaders for their open cooperation, and said he would fully brief the President and the Cabinet on the communities’ longstanding request to relocate the firing range. He added that the causes of and responsibility for the fire would be known by the middle of next week, once Brigadier Savvas Stefanou completes his investigation. National Guard chief’s statement Theodorou, the National Guard Chief of Staff, apologised to residents of the communities affected by the large fire in Kalo Chorio, taking responsibility on behalf of the National Guard for the incident. He said that, given what had been said and written in recent days, he felt it necessary to make a public statement. He apologised to residents who had found themselves in a difficult position, and said immediate measures would be taken to keep the risk of a similar incident happening again to a minimum. He said specific actions that could be implemented without delay had already been discussed with representatives of the affected communities. Addressing criticism directed at the Ministry of Defence, he clarified that the Ministry is not in a position, institutionally or practically, to know the full scope of the National Guard’s operational activities, which are numerous and often particularly dangerous. As such, he said, responsibility for the incident rests solely with the National Guard. On the circumstances of the fire, he explained that it had involved planned training for personnel specialised in explosive ordnance disposal, conducted in cooperation with an allied country and scheduled well in advance. He said the activity had been known to local communities, adding that the ongoing investigation would establish whether it should have taken place that particular day, and exactly what happened at the firing range to cause the fire. Theodorou stressed that the force must maintain its combat readiness, and that necessary training and live-fire exercises cannot be suspended, as they are directly linked to operational readiness and the training of new soldiers. He also said he takes responsibility both in easy and difficult times, saying: “I am not Chief of of the National Guard only on sunny days, but also on difficult days.” Measures being pursued include a review of the standing orders governing live-fire exercises and their permitted limits in specific areas. The National Guard will also take on maintenance and clearing of firebreak zones around the firing range, while the installation of a permanent surveillance system, either with personnel present or using cameras, is being considered. Other immediate measures are also being assessed, and Theodorou committed that local authorities will from now on be informed promptly and in detail of every activity planned at the firing range. Asked whether these measures could have been implemented earlier, he said the National Guard carries out many demanding and dangerous activities, adding that every incident should be used as a lesson to tighten procedures. He closed by repeating his apology to residents of the affected communities and said the National Guard would make every effort to ensure a similar incident does not happen again. 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