By Jonathan Shkurko, Tom Cleaver and Elias Hazou

A blaze that broke out earlier on Thursday near the village of Koilani, Limassol district, was brought under control by the evening, but firefighters remained on standby in case of flare-ups.

The fire started near the village and at one point threatened to expand toward the Troodos forest.

By the time firefighters had it under control, the blaze burned one-and-a-half square km of brushes.

Eight residences in the vicinity were evacuated as a precaution.

A total of eight firefighting planes and twelve fire engines were deployed, while the Civil Defence unit also sent three mobile fighting units, and the Forestry Department 19 fire engines.

One of the Forestry Department fire engines became trapped by the fires at one location, the flames engulfing the vehicle’s rear. In a bid to escape, the driver accidentally veered into a ravine 20 metres deep.

The vehicle overturned, with the personnel still inside. They had a lucky escape, with only one of the crew sustaining light injuries.

According to witnesses, there were two fire sources – one after the other – leading to suspicions of arson.

“It looks deliberate,” Koilani community leader Kyriacos Kyriacou told media.

By nightfall no active fire spots remained, but firemen stayed on standby as a precaution.

fire koilani