UPDATE 2: Paphos fire burns all day, arson suspect released without charge

A fire in the Trachypedoulas area in the Paphos district was still burning at 10pm on Wednesday, the fire services said. By late evening some 18 square kilometres of wild scrub, grass and trees had burned.

Earlier in the day a 35-year-old was arrested after police received a tip-off that he was seen acting suspiciously in the area police spokesman Andreas Angelides said.

The suspect was arrested and was questioned yesterday afternoon but released later in the day.

No houses had so far been endangered and fire trucks guarded livestock farms in the area from any approaching flames earlier in the day.

A total of 22 vehicles and 80 people from the fire services, forestry department, game fund, local communities and district administration offices were helping to battle the blaze, a fire spokesman said. Helicopters and a fire-fighting aircraft were also being used but they stopped around 8pm when darkness fell.

Due to the rough terrain and strong winds the firefighters were struggling to deal with the fire, the spokesman said. Help was asked for from the British Bases according to a fire department’s control centre.

 

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