The Fire Service responded to fires across all districts of Cyprus on Saturday, the service announced, as rising temperatures heighten fire risk heading into the summer season.
Nicosia district
The most serious individual incident occurred in the early hours, when the Fire Service responded at 4:04am to a fire involving a parked vehicle in a covered car park in the community of Mammari. The vehicle sustained extensive damage. A second vehicle parked nearby and a house also sustained damage. The Fire Service noted the incident as arson.
Later in the day, the Lakatamia fire station responded at 13:30 to a fire in the Agioi Trimithias area alongside Peristerona fire station. The fire was brought under control after burning one hectare of crops and dry grass. At 15:10, the Fire Service responded to a fire in crops and dry grass in the buffer zone in the Aglantzia area, accompanied by United Nations personnel. That fire was extinguished. At 16:20, the Lakatamia fire station responded to a further fire in Deftera, which was brought under control after burning one decare of reeds.
Limassol district
At 10:45, the Monovolikos fire station deployed two vehicles to a fire in Ypsonas, which burned three decares of dry grass and wild vegetation before being brought under control. Two portable firefighting units from Ypsonas Municipality assisted. At 15:25, the Agios Nikolaos fire station responded with one vehicle to a fire near the community of Pyrga. The fire burned half a decare of dry grass before being brought under control, with the Department of Forests assisting with one vehicle.
Paphos district
At 13:40, the Paphos and Pegeia fire stations responded to a fire near the community of Pegeia. Two fire vehicles and an excavator were deployed. The fire was brought under control after burning four decares of dry grass and wild vegetation.
Famagusta district
Two fires broke out in the government-controlled Famagusta district on Saturday afternoon. At 16:00, a fire in crops broke out in the Agios Panteleimonas area, burning one decare of dry grass, wild vegetation, reeds and acacias before being brought under control. A water pipe was also affected. Half an hour later, a further fire broke out in dry grass in the Agios Andronikos area in Sotira and was also brought under control, the Fire Service said.
