A fire that broke out on Monday afternoon in an area near the community of Arsos in Limassol district has been brought under control after burning approximately 3.5 hectares of land.
According to a later update from Fire Service spokesman Andreas Kettis, efforts are continuing to fully establish the fire’s perimeter, with firefighting crews and earthmoving equipment remaining at the scene.
A winery and a holiday home were protected during the operation, while the fire mainly burned dry grass and wild vegetation. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
Greek firefighters join operation
Twenty-one firefighters from Greece also assisted with the firefighting effort. They are currently in Cyprus as part of the European Union’s programme for the pre-positioning of firefighting forces.
Working alongside the Department of Forests, the Greek firefighters took part in the operation with six fire engines and a water tanker.
Firefighting crews will remain in the area throughout the night to deal with any potential flare-ups and prevent the fire from spreading.
Five aircraft deployed during response
Earlier, a major ground and aerial firefighting operation was launched to tackle the blaze.
Five aerial firefighting aircraft were involved, while the Department of Forests, the Game and Fauna Service and organised volunteer groups also assisted.
Civil Defence was notified to deploy additional personnel.
Personnel had also been recalled to ensure adequate staffing in Limassol city during the emergency, while the Fire Service Chief was at the Operations Coordination Centre at Police Headquarters overseeing the overall response.
