Fires rage amid arson fears (Update 2)

Fire raged on the island for a second day on Friday and Minister of Justice Ionas Nicolaou called evidence of arson in the events worrying.

“The situation is taking on a worrying dimension…as it seems the fire is a result of malicious attack aimed at destroying the forest,” Nicolaou said.

A fire burning just north of the Monagrouli area in Limassol on Friday was brought under control after destroying some 15 hectares of land, the second blaze firefighters had been called on to battle in less than 24 hours

The first fire appeared to have been an arson attack as a man was arrested shortly after the flames were extinguished.

The Monagrouli fire broke out at around 2pm on Friday, destroying wild vegetation, pine, olive and carob trees before it was extinguished at about 4:15pm.

Firefighters battled exceedingly difficult conditions as strong winds were fanning the flames while they tried to stop the fire from reaching farms in the area.

A total of 16 firefighting trucks and five water-dropping aircraft — three helicopters and two small aeroplanes — fought the fire, according to fire service spokesman Andreas

Kettis.

An excavator from the Limassol district office, fire fighting vehicles from the game fund and a number of volunteers rushed to help at the scene and the worst was averted despite a close call when a pig farm and some residences in the area were threatened.

Head of the fire service Markos Trangolas was also at the scene coordinating the department’s efforts.

Less than 24-hours earlier, the department had been battling a fire in a forest near Ayia Paraskevi and Pano Pyrgos in the Tyllyria area, which spread fast due to strong winds.

It burned 30 hectares of dense forest and was serious enough to alert ‘authorities’ in the north for fear the flames would spread.

The fire broke out at around 6:30pm and raged for six hours before around 250 people helped to extinguish it, while 40 vehicles from the forest department, 10 fire trucks and four aircraft were deployed.

Pine trees destroyed in the fire were on average 60-years-old.

The flames were put under control shortly after midnight amid fears Cyprus would need the help of Israel for assistance.

In a tweet, President Nicos Anastasiades thanked the fire services and forestry department as well as all volunteers, adding his gratitude towards the government of Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for their readiness to help.

One man working for the forest department suffered minor burns and was treated in hospital but went back to fight the fire later on.

“It is truly sad and concerning because there is no excuse for such action or behaviour. This is why the cooperation of members of the public with authorities is necessary so we can fight such criminal activities and protect our natural environment,” Nicolaou said.

“No one can even begin to imagine how serious the destruction of the fire could have been had the authorities not reacted promptly and efficiently,” he added.

Nicolaou also thanked the embassy and government of Israel for immediately offering three water-dropping aircraft to help in the early hours of the morning.

At around 4:30am, police arrested a 35-year-old who is suspected of deliberately setting the forest on fire as an arson attack.

The why remained a mystery to the Pyrgos community leader Nicos Kleanthous who said this was the third consecutive year a fire had been set in the exact same spot.

Echoing the fire services spokesman, he said “it is certainly an arson attack”.

“There’s nothing to be gained by setting the forest on fire. It’s an act of revenge. Revenge against the forest.”

About 50 families in Pyrgos are employed at the forestry department and they wouldn’t have a reason to do anything of the sort, Kleanthous told the state broadcaster.

Nonetheless, according to police the 35-year-old is a resident of the area.

Last week, a 72-year-old man was arrested in connection with two separate fires in the villages of Kantou and Sotira.

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