Two Greek-French Commanders with Kalymnian Roots Stand by the Island
A visit of strong symbolic value and tangible potential for Kalymnos’ fire protection took place on Wednesday, 19 August 2026. Southern France fire-service officers of Kalymnian descent, Olivier Cambouris and Fabrice Carboni-Camboyris, met at Kalymnos Town Hall with Mayor Ioannis Mastrokoukos and representatives of the island’s Volunteer Fire Station.
Discussions focused on providing practical support to the station, including protective clothing, footwear, firefighting equipment and possibly vehicles made available by French fire services. The meeting also highlighted Kalymnos Municipality’s longstanding request for the Volunteer Fire Station to be upgraded into a fully organised fire-service unit.
The two officers later visited the station’s facilities at Elies, where they recorded its needs and explored opportunities for future cooperation. Taking place within the framework of the twinning relationship between Kalymnos and Port-de-Bouc, the initiative demonstrates how the Kalymnian diaspora can provide valuable support for the protection and safety of the island.
Afroditi Gerakiou, a member of the Kalymnian diaspora in France, and her husband served as interpreters, helping facilitate communication during the meeting.
Kalymnos Times asked Olivier Cambouris, Commander of the Port-de-Bouc Fire Service, for his assessment of the recent wildfires that have threatened the island.
He explained that climate change is a major underlying factor behind many wildfires, not only in Kalymnos but also in France and other countries. Although he had not yet exchanged views with his local counterparts, he noted that conditions vary considerably from one area to another, with vegetation and wind patterns playing a crucial role in how fires start and spread.
For Mr Cambouris, however, the most critical factor is the firefighting strategy itself—a strategy that must be built around speed, preparedness and immediate intervention.
