US EditionFatal Wildfire on Cyprus Caused by 'Carelessly Discarded Cigarette,' Report Finds
The wildfire, caused by a discarded cigarette butt amid extreme weather, destroyed 224 homes and damaged 300 vehicles, with two fatalities reported, officials said.
- On Thursday, a U.S. ATF report found a discarded cigarette caused the wildfire that began along the road between Malia and Arsos at 1.20pm on July 23 in Limassol district, Cyprus.
- Strong winds and low humidity with 39 degrees Celsius made ignition 100% likely, while three winters of minimal rainfall created arid conditions, Cyprus Fire Service investigators said.
- As the fire spread it burned 25,000 acres, completely gutted 224 homes, partially burned 308 residences, and damaged about 300 vehicles near Limassol.
- An elderly couple died while fleeing the flames, and more than 250 firefighters and 14 aircraft battled multiple fronts for two days to contain the wildfire.
- The ATF team conducted a 10-day investigation in Cyprus at President Nikos Christodoulides' request, coinciding with a World Weather Attribution study showing 2025 wildfires were 22% more intense and burned over 1 million hectares.
12 Articles
12 Articles
One of the most devastating fires in Cyprus in recent memory was caused by a cigarette discarded on the side of a mountain road, a report by US experts said. The report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concluded that the ‘accidental’ cause of the fire was a ‘carelessly discarded cigarette that came into contact with dry vegetation’. The fire in July near the coastal city of Limassol killed two people, destroyed 70…
Cigarette Sparked Deadly Cyprus Wildfire, U.S. Experts Say
FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE — A deadly wildfire that swept through the Limassol mountains began from a discarded cigarette, according to a report released by U.S. investigators. Experts pinpointed the ignition site to a 30-by-30-centimeter patch along the Mallia–Arsos road, where they found one partially burned and one fully burned cigarette butt. Both were collected as evidence and handed to local authorities. The report cited extreme fire conditions on …
US report: cigarette sparked deadly Limassol wildfire
A discarded cigarette caused the devastating wildfires sweeping through Limassol district last month, a report by American investigators, made public on Thursday, has found. “The cause of the fire was a carelessly discarded cigarette coming into contact with dry vegetation,” read the report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms…
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