AROUND 260 firefighters, 54 fire engines and seven aircraft were used to fight raging fires in the Machairas forest, first on Sunday in a five-hour battle with the flames and then yesterday after the fire reignited in the forest ravines.
Further south of the island, another fire broke out between Ayios Theodoros and Maroni, destroying four hectares of land. In both cases, local residents suspect arsonists at play.
Just after midday yesterday, the fire which had burnt a square kilometre of state and private land on Sunday, broke out again in the Mouti tou Kornou area of Machairas forest.
Despite the fact firefighters were already stationed at the scene from the night before, their job was made extremely difficult by the rough and rocky terrain where the fire had reignited and had to rely mostly on aircraft support to tackle the blazing fire.
Scenes were played on television showing a small number of firefighters who had made it by foot to the source of the fire combining efforts with the aeroplanes and helicopters overhead.
One fireman was seen on a hilltop shouting as he looked on to his colleagues below: “How will the hose save us?”
Forestry Department official Takis Tsindides said the fire had reignited in a difficult and inaccessible area with dense vegetation, forcing all firefighting units to return to the forest. “It is dangerous because the fire has a large perimeter, which is broken in parts. It is an inaccessible, rocky area, where machines, bulldozers, and firefighters cannot go,” he said during the firefight.
After an hour’s battle, the water tanks were empty and the fight was left to the water-carrying aircraft which brought the fire under control at around 3pm. Around ten acres of wild vegetation, trees and bushes were burnt. One hundred firefighters and ten fire engines were ordered to remain in the area last night to ensure the lull was not just a momentary ceasefire.
On Sunday, the fire broke out at around 3.30pm between Kyprovasa and Lythrodondas in the Machairas area and raged uncontrollably for another five hours in difficult conditions. It was only brought under control after a massive operation was launched to break the back of the raging fire, including the use of three helicopters leased by the Cyprus Republic, two British bases helicopters, one police helicopter and one Forestry Department plane.
According to Forestry Department spokesman Andreas Christou, in total, 260 people, 54 engines and seven aircraft were used to fight the fire from the Fire Service, Forestry Department, Game Fund, District Administration, Civil Defence and National Guard as well as volunteer local residents.
“The fire was very big and dangerous and a huge effort was needed to put it out,” he said.
He estimated that around a square kilometre of wild and forest vegetation, as well as some privately-owned crops were burnt from the fire in the region.
Local residents were quoted on CyBC saying that the fact the fire had started in four separate places, at around 500 metres distance, indicated that it was not accidental.
Fire Service chief Andreas Nicolaou said investigations were continuing to identify the causes of the fire, hinting that arson could not be ruled out.
“The four starting points were separate, not continuous. This doesn’t reflect human error,” he said, adding that all information collected so far has been given to the police.
Agriculture Minister Demetris Eliades yesterday congratulated the firefighters and citizens who worked “selflessly” to put out the fires.
Despite the “uneven” battle, the fire was brought under control and further damage prevented thanks to the “excellent coordination and huge efforts made by firefighting groups”.
He sent out a warning that the government would show no mercy regarding crimes against the environment.
“We can’t afford to lose even one tree. Every tree is a loss, every such act is a crime. Criminal acts going against the environment and society will be tackled mercilessly by the state,” said Eliades.
Meanwhile, firefighters had to tackle another fire which broke out yesterday between Ayios Theodoros and Maroni in the Larnaca district at around 3.15pm. Three hours later, the fire was brought under control with the aid of eight fire engines, two aeroplanes and three helicopters. Local residents rushed to the scene with tractors and other equipment to help put out the fire before it reached their homes and greenhouses. The fact that the sea was close by helped the aircraft reach the site much faster than they normally would for inland, forest fires.
EMAK Chief Inspector Andreas Loizides from the Fire Service crisis team said the fire burnt four hectares of olive and carob trees and wild scrubland.
“To prevent the recurrence of fire in the area, four fire engines will remain,” he said.
Asked to comment on residents’ claims that the fire started in two different areas, indicating arson, he said: “All avenues will be investigated, including this one.”
The latest onslaught of fires comes after Paphos fought off four fires on Saturday while eight fires raged across the island last Wednesday.
According to Turkish Cypriot press, a recent fire at a rubbish site in occupied Dikomo has released toxic and carcinogenic gases in the air. The Turkish Cypriot ‘environment minister’ Kemal Douroust was quoted as saying that smoke and fumes from that fire are expected to continue for two more days.
