Alassa fire contained after 8 hours, Jordan to send help (Update 6)

By Andria Kades and Gina Agapiou

Limassol was engulfed in a plume of dark smoke on Friday, as firefighters battled to keep a fire in the Alassa area contained. President Nikos Christidoulides said help would be arriving from Jordan in the morning, while Israel was on standby to send support.

The fire burned some 3km of land, as 100 people had evacuated their homes in Korfi and Apesia during the day, as flames threatened to engulf their properties. Families and children were later allowed to return though communities in the vicinity suffered from power cuts due to the flames, affecting residents in Apsiou, Gerasa, Korfi and Apesia.

By 10pm the fire had been contained within certain boundaries though the risk of flare-ups was high.

“The firefighting forces will work all night to secure the perimeter and fully extinguish the fire,” spokesman for the fire service Andreas Kettis said.

Christodoulides rushed to the scene at around 7:30pm to be briefed on the developments, amid fears over the fire’s containment. He thanked all men and women who had responded “impressively and professionally” from all services.

Three aircraft from Jordan would be arriving to the Andreas Papandreou airbase in Paphos on Saturday morning including two Super Puma and one Mi-26.

Help from Israel was on standby depending on Cyprus’ needs, the president said.

“Our Turkish Cypriot compatriots have also expressed their readiness to help.” This will be evaluated as the fight continues, Christodoulides said, expressing his gratitude to all who offered their support.

Apasia community leader Lefteris Perikli said one home had been burned down, while five houses sustained external damages, Limassol’s district officer Marios Alexandrou specified. Residents posted pleas for help to rescue their animals, as commentators said some pets had perished in the fire.

Aircraft stepped out of the fight as the darkness settled, leaving the fight centred on the ground. By 9pm, the fire services spokesman Andreas Kettis said the northeastern front was the most severe, with all other sites relatively calmer.

Justice Minister Anna Procopiou also arrived to the scene late at night to be fully briefed on the developments.

The fire broke out at around 2pm at Alassa and headed towards Korfi village – which had been evacuated. The road linking Ayia Irini, Korgi, Ayios Mamas and Trimiklini had closed in both directions with police warning the public to stay away – though it reopened shortly before 8pm.

Firefighters from across the country had flocked to help fight the flames, as all personnel – including those on leave – were called to help as the situation raged on.

The flames also led to power cuts across Apesia and Korfi villages, while fire services spokesman Andreas Kettis said the northwest front of the flames was the most challenging, which was where most of the aircraft efforts were focusing on while there was still daylight.

“All forces are trying to contain the fire within the perimeter,” he stressed.

Christodoulides said he had spoken to the police chief over the cause of the fire. Investigations have already begun though there are fears it may have been arson, as eyewitnesses said the flames began close to the road between Limassol and Platres.

The civil defence coordinated evacuations across Korfi, Ayia Irini and Apesia communities, with the winds making the firefighting all the more difficult.

The fire service had activated the Ikaros 2 contingency plan, with at least five aircraft operating to help put out the blaze raging in the Alassa community.

Five ground firefighting units from the forestry department were also at the scene which are being reinforced with engines from the Paphos, Nicosia and Larnaca departments.

Limassol district authority has also responded with four units and equipment.