INVESTIGATIONS into the causes of the massive fire that erupted in the Paphos region on Monday appear to have identified a National Guard (NG) helicopter flying at the time as the culprit.
According to sources, the preliminary investigations by police and the fire service show that the fire was started when the NG helicopter Mi-35 cut some overhead cables of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) while on a test flight south of Choulou village.
The fire, which broke out at around 2.45pm threatened to engulf two villages in the area, causing the authorities to evacuate Choulou and Lemona villages. The fire was brought under control before reaching Choulou, but due to strong winds, forked off in two separate directions, going for Lemona and Statos-Ayios Photios villages. A large firefighting force was assembled to participate in the five-hour battle to put out the raging fire before it reached the villages, involving the Fire Service, Forestry Department, Game Service, and British Bases. Two leased helicopters, two British Bases helicopters and a Forestry Department plane took part in the operation. Emergency services remained in the affected area throughout the night on Monday and yesterday, putting out small fires in the 50 hectares of land destroyed by the fire.
District Office officials arrived on the scene yesterday morning to make a preliminary assessment of the damage done, recording destroyed fields of cultivated citrus, olive, almonds, grape as well as small chicken farms.
The authorities are now looking into the possibility that a Defence Ministry helicopter on a test flight in the area 15km from the Paphos airport may have been responsible for the fire. One source told the Cyprus Mail that “everyone knows it was the helicopter which cut the overhead cables, but we are waiting for the investigations to be concluded”.
According to a Defence Ministry announcement, the helicopter was on a test flight 15km north of Paphos airport when it got caught in some EAC overhead cables, causing slight damage to the aircraft. None of the Russian crew on board were injured during the flight. The ministry said the test flight was carried out as part of a maintenance contract with the Russian supplier, to confirm that the chopper was in good flight condition before delivering it to the National Guard. It is believed the cables were cut when the helicopter caught them, possibly sparking the fire which then spread to Choulou and beyond.
Fire Service head Andreas Nicolaou did not rule out a short circuit being the cause of the fire. He highlighted the need to create firebreaks in areas where there is much scrubland. August and September are the most dangerous for big fires due to the high temperatures and strong winds, he added.
