Cyprus will rely more on digital support and the help of the population in forest fire prevention in the future. SafeIsland CY is a new free smartphone app that allows citizens to report suspicious smoke or fires while receiving information about possible wildfires in their area.

The application was developed by Brickworks Games as part of the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative. The partner of the project is Kitas Weather, which is providing support during the current pilot phase, among other things, in managing the platform and reviewing incoming reports.

The app is available free of charge for iOS and Android.

Smoke spotted? The

central element of SafeIsland CY is an interactive map. Users can mark a possible fire or conspicuous smoke development there and transmit additional information.

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For example, a photo or a short description of the situation can be added. At the same time, current messages from other users can be tracked on the map. Users can also be alerted to incidents in their environment via notifications.

The principle behind this is simple: Especially during the first few minutes of a forest fire, official bodies and the population often do not yet have complete information.

People on the ground may already see smoke, notice a closed road, or detect changes in wind direction long before a comprehensive picture of the situation emerges.

This is exactly where SafeIsland CY is supposed to come in.

Particularly interesting

for rural and mountain areas The application is basically aimed at all people in Cyprus, but is likely to be of particular interest to residents of rural regions, mountain villages and areas with an increased risk of forest fires.

There, local observations can be crucial in alerting other people to a possible danger at an early stage.

The developers therefore see the app as a communal information system. Citizens should be able to pass on observations quickly, while other users should get a better overview of the situation in their environment.

Response to the severe wildfires of 2025

SafeIsland CY was created as part of the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative, which was launched after the severe wildfires of 2025.

The aim of the initiative is to support affected communities while improving prevention, preparedness and response capacity to future wildfires.

The new app is part of this strategy and combines technology with information from the population and local expertise.

Important: The app does not replace an emergency call

Despite all the technical support, there is one crucial point: SafeIsland CY is not a substitute for fire brigades, police or other rescue services.

Anyone who discovers a fire or is in an immediate danger situation should continue to notify the responsible authorities immediately via the official emergency call channels.

Rather, the app is intended to be an additional source of information and to increase early awareness of possible dangers.

Data protection without permanent location monitoring

According to the developers, another focus is on data protection.

SafeIsland CY does not use permanent location tracking in the background. Location information is only required when a user submits a report himself.

In addition, users decide for themselves what information they pass on. The focus of a report should be on the observed incident and not on the person who reported it.

Pilot phase to show

weaknesses and opportunities for improvement The current version of the app is initially in a pilot phase.

TechIsland, Brickworks Games and Kitas Weather want to observe how reliably the system works under real conditions. The aim is to take into account both user experience and feedback from other agencies involved.

On this basis, functions, content and the processes for checking and providing information can then be further developed.

Brickworks Games CEO Georgy Beloglazov emphasizes the importance of the first minutes of a possible forest fire. Local information could help to create awareness of the situation more quickly and, if necessary, to enable an earlier response.

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Eric Kitas, founder of Kitas Weather, also points out the importance of fast and at the same time reliable information during times of increased forest fire risk. Kitas Weather is therefore taking an active role in supporting the platform during the pilot phase.

TechIsland Managing Director Tanya Romanyukha sees the project as an example of how technology, citizen participation and local know-how can work together to improve prevention and disaster risk reduction.

Population to test

the app SafeIsland CY was first presented to the public on July 23, 2026 at the presentation of the TechIsland Wildfire Initiative at The Warehouse by IT Quarter in Limassol.

Now the population is to test the application as widely as possible. Those responsible are calling on users to familiarize themselves with the functions, activate notifications and provide feedback during the pilot phase.

Especially on an island like Cyprus, where dry vegetation, high temperatures and strong winds during the summer months can lead to dangerous forest fire situations within a short period of time, such an additional information system could be useful.

However, the decisive factor will be how reliably reports are checked and how incorrect reports or outdated information is prevented from causing unnecessary uncertainty.

TechIsland was founded in 2021 as a non-profit organization and is considered one of Cyprus' most important technology associations. More than 400 companies now belong to the association. The organization's goal is to further develop the technology sector on the island and strengthen Cyprus as an international location for technology and innovation.


Available on

As part of a first pilot phase

click Click here to download for Android
Here download for IOS


Author: Editors
Source: Cyprus-Mail.com