Fire!

Fanned by the wind, fire in the countryside spreads rapidly in the hot summer months. This fire at Secret Valley raged out of control for two hours.

Take great care when out in the Cyprus countryside in the hot summer months – there’s a very big risk of starting a fire that could endanger lives and ruin the countryside.

By June the Cyprus countryside has turned a golden colour under the hot Mediterranean sun.  With that comes a a big fire risk.  The countryside is like tinder – and the slightest unguarded flame can set off a blaze in the countryside that can rapidly rage out of control.

Last week as I was driuving along the motorway from Paphos to Limassol.  From about 20km away I saw a huge column of smoke rising into the blue sky.  Curiosity led me to leaving the motorway to investigate.  I discovered the fields below Secret Valley were well and truly ablaze.

The Cypriot fire authorities use helicopters to scoop water up out of the sea and drop it on the flames to get the fire under control.

I must have arrived not long after the fire got going, but within a few minutes three helicopters of the Cypriot Fire Authority were at work, scooping up water from the sea and using it to try to get the flames under control.  You have to admire the skills of the helicopter crews as they fly close to the ground in dense smoke to drop their water precisely on the flames. 

The helicopters were joined by fire engines, but their job was especially difficult as the flames raced across the fields, driven on by a strong breeze.

Three helicopters fought to bring the blaze under control

The speed with which the fire advanced was perhaps the most frightening aspect of the fire.  It was a hot, breezy day – and the effects of the wind and heat drove the fire on at great speed across the fields.

Three helicopters of the Cyprus Fire Authority spent over two hours flying back and forth between filling their buckets in the sea and then dropping the water with great precision on the flames. 

Luckily this fire was right next to the sea – had it been inland it would have taken them much longer to douse the flames.

The fire burnt everything in its path - leaving a smoking, blackened countryside behind it

Most of the fires in Cyprus are started by human negligence.  How can you avoid being the next person to start a fire in Cyprus this year?

• Don’t light any fires in the countryside.  If you fancy an al fresco barbecue, go to the beach
• Be very careful where you throw cigaratte ends.  Throwing them out the window of your car can have disastrous consequences
• Don’t set off fireworks in the countryside.
• If you’re using an off-road vehicle, make sure the catalytic converter is working properly

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