Filenews 23 August 2022
An illegal garbage dump was the main source of the fire in Pelathousa on Monday afternoon, which left behind great damage, said the Spokesman of the Fire Service, Andreas Kettis.
In his statements, Mr. Kettis called on anyone who has the slightest information, to give it to the Police and the Fire Brigade for its investigation. The causes of the fire in the areas of Asprogia and Kokkinokampos, around the village of Pelathousa in the Pafos district, are being investigated in cooperation with the Police, while according to Mr. Kettis, it is estimated that the main source of the fire was in an illegal garbage dump. It is also estimated that there was a second outbreak on the northern front, he added.
The Spokesman of the Fire Brigade said that strong ground firefighting forces worked throughout the night, but early in the morning 4 aerial means of which, 2 aircraft and 2 firefighting helicopters, were deployed for final firefighting and full demarcation.
He also pointed out that the fire had become manageable at 19:28 on Monday afternoon and burned one and a half square kilometres of dry grass, wild vegetation, reeds and various trees. Due to the strong winds blowing in the area yesterday, a private house with its contents suffered extensive damage, while the strong ground and air forces operating in the area, prevented the further spread of the fire, he said. He also mentioned that livestock and other premises were protected, as well as private houses within the boundaries of the community.
In addition, according to a relevant press release, the Fire Brigade responded to the fire with twelve staffed Fire Trucks from the Fire Stations of the Pafos district, with reinforcement from the Limassol district. The firefighting project was reinforced by sixteen fire trucks and three land pushers of the Department of Forests, three portable firefighting units from the Game Service and two from the Civil Defence, a chain vehicle from the District Administration, as well as members of the Police. After the activation of the IKAROS II Plan, ten aerial means were deployed.
It is noted that the large fire that started from a rural area between Pelathousa and Polis Chrysochous burned the house of the director Panikos Chrysanthou in the village of Pelathousa. He suffered minor burns while trying to put out the fire and was taken to the Hospital. After receiving first aid, he was released from hospital.
In her statements, the District Officer of Paphos Mary Lambrou noted that the District Administration of Pafos in cooperation with the Civil Defence made arrangements for his temporary housing, but in the end he was hosted by its friends in Polis Chrysochous. According to the District Officer of Paphos Mary Lambrou, the Turkish Cypriot house that was granted to the well-known director Panicos Chrysanthou has been almost completely destroyed. A technician of the Turkish Cypriot Property Branch went to the scene on Monday afternoon together with an Administrative employee of the District Administration, while photos were taken from the scene in order to make an assessment and to see whether it can be repaired, concluded Mrs. Lambrou.
CNA
