Kotsiatis fire under control despite strong winds (Updated)

The fire that broke out in the Kotsiatis area on Wednesday after noon and later spread outside the former landfill was put under control later in the day according to the fire service.

The blaze broke out at around 1pm and spread to dry grass and wild vegetation outside the site two hours later before it was brought under control around 7pm, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis tweeted.

He added that strong winds might reignite the fire.

“The fire is currently under control. However, strong winds are blowing in the area and there are constant flare-ups,” the spokesman said.

For this reason, some firefighting forces stayed on site until later at night.

In total, four fire engines from the fire service and two from the forestry department as well as one private excavator and agricultural tractors participated in the firefighting.

The fire destroyed around 150,000 square metres of wild vegetation, trees, and garbage.