On July 23, 2025, Cyprus saw how quickly a fire can turn into a disaster. The big fire in the Limassol district cost the lives of two people and a later analysis estimated that it burned about 120.7 square kilometers, which is about 1.3% of Cyprus. On the same day, the province of Paphos was also facing a separate serious fire, which broke out at the Agia Marinouda landfill and spread to Agia Varvara, Nata and Episkopi. In Paphos, the fire left 10 villages without electricity for several hours, damaged infrastructure and led to emergency evacuations, as the flames moved on rough ground.
This is of particular importance. It shows that the fire risk in Cyprus is not limited to just one province and that Paphos is not out of danger. For households located near open land, bushland, tree lines, village edges and hilly roads, the message is simple: preparation cannot begin when the smoke is now visible.
Paphos had its own serious warning signs last summer
The fire in Agia Marinouda was not the only warning. On August 17, 2025, another fire broke out between Tsada and Kili. It spread within minutes due to dry vegetation and strong winds, and 25 houses in Tsada were partially and precautionarily evacuated. Some houses were directly threatened, as the fire moved quickly towards residential areas.
Even before these larger incidents, the Paphos district had already come under repeated pressure from fires. At the end of June 2025, multiple fires were recorded in the province, including near the Monastery of Stavros in Minthi and between Drousia and Prodromi. The fire season often comes as a chain of events, where each incident tests access, response time, and local preparedness.
Start from the space around the house
The first and most practical step is to reduce what can fuel a fire near the house.
Dry grass, dead branches, uncleaned garden debris, stacked wood, cardboard boxes, plastic objects, and other flammable materials must be removed before the warmer weeks arrive. This is not a difficult task, but it can make a big difference if flames or embers approach a house.
For properties outside urban centers, access is also part of the preparation. The gates must open correctly, the entrances remain accessible and every household already knows which route to take if conditions change quickly. Fires do not only threaten buildings. They also create panic, close roads, cause damage to infrastructure, and make it difficult to make decisions just when a clear mind is needed.
Water matters — but access to water matters more
Many houses in Paphos already have something valuable nearby: a water tank, a backup irrigation supply or a swimming pool.
But having water in the property does not mean that it can be used effectively when needed. The most essential question is whether this water can move quickly, with sufficient pressure and range, as long as conditions still remain manageable.
This is where portable fire pumps deserve more attention. For exposed homes, a portable pump that can draw water from a tank or pool can add a practical level of preparedness. It does not replace the Fire Service and should never be used in place of evacuation when authorities ask you to leave. However, at the initial stage of an incident, or when the protection of a home's immediate surroundings is still safe and feasible, this type of equipment can help wet vulnerable areas, support water lines, cool outbreaks and make better use of the water already present in the property.
Portable fire pumps are therefore not only a theoretical preparation option. During the fire in Limassol in July 2025, households in Souni used portable pumping systems that harnessed stored water to help protect homes and gardens in real-world fire conditions.
In a province like Paphos, this is of particular importance. Many out-of-town properties already have water stored near them. In these cases, the question is not only whether there is water, but whether it can be used quickly and efficiently if a fire approaches.
Every household should have a simple fire plan
Equipment is only one part of the preparation. The other is clarity.
Every household already needs to know who will call for help, who will help children, the elderly or pets, which road is the main exit route, what is the alternative if access is blocked, and where the essentials are located — keys, documents, medicines, chargers and phones.
The official guidelines are clear: anyone who sees smoke or fire should report it immediately. Quick reporting matters because a small fire in summer conditions can very quickly turn into a large fire. In Cyprus, the Department of Forests can be notified on 1407 and the emergency services via 112.
The biggest mistake is being late
Many delay substantial preparation until the first day of a red alert, the first episode of strong winds or the first major fire in the news.
By then, the pressure has already begun. Stores are filling up, equipment is becoming harder to find, and decisions are being made under stress instead of being made in a timely manner. Last summer's fires in the Paphos district — particularly the Agia Marinouda fire in July and the Tsada-Kili fire in August — are a reminder that this is not an issue that should only concern us when the season has already become dangerous.
For those who want a more detailed list of actions, this fire season preparation guide - https://hephaestus.solutions/el/%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B5%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%AF%CF%84%CE%B5-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%BF-%CF%80%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BA/?v=471c1f3fc1dd offers practical and step-by-step preparation points before conditions become dangerous.
Preparation is not panic — it's common sense
No household can control the weather. No family can prevent every fire.
But people can clear fuel around the house, control access, organize stored water, store significant numbers, make an evacuation plan, and think of realistic tools that can help in the early stage of a threat. In a province like Paphos, where many properties are located next to open areas and vegetation, this kind of preparation is no exaggeration. It's just a responsible attitude.
