A 32-year-old illegal resident was remanded for six days on Tuesday in connection with the fire that broke out on Monday in Anogyra, as authorities said children setting off fireworks caused the Trimiklini fire on the same day.

The man was found hiding on the roof of a house in Pachna with €8,000 in his possession, Limassol CID chief Lefteris Kyriakou said.

Police found a vehicle at his residence, which a witness testified they saw when the fire broke out in the area.

His partner, who was inside the house, has also been found to have been staying illegally in the Republic. The money was found in a bag that was also in the house, Kyriakou explained.

The Limassol CID chief said that “from the examinations so far, his presence in the specific place [where the fire started] is not justified.” Among the offences being investigated are lighting a fire in the open air, illegal possession of property and illegal residence.

Meanwhile, a fire which broke out later on the same day in Trimiklini, also in Limassol, was determined to have been started by two children setting off fireworks. There was initially a small outbreak, but due to the strong winds it spread very quickly and destroyed about 1.5 square kilometres of pine trees and dense vegetation. It also damaged buildings and a mobile home.

Authorities are investigating the possible responsibility of the parents of the minors, or the people who supplied them the fireworks, Kyriakou said.

Initially a 12-year-old boy was identified and interviewed in the presence of his guardian, who stated that he and a friend had set off a firework, indicating where the fire started. Then, a second minor, aged 13, was found who also admitted setting off a firecracker at the scene.

According to the law, people under 14 years of age have no criminal liability.

The fire in the communities of Laenia and Trimiklini raged overnight and was brought under full control around 6am on Tuesday.

The forestry department said a strong ground firefighting force continued battling the flames through the night and aerial operations resumed at dawn.

Over 200 firefighters and around 40 fire engines from various departments and services aided in putting out the fire.

Twelve aircraft contributed from the air, while the ground forces from the forest department numbered 150 people as ten excavators and three tankers were used.

Residents of the areas, the police, national guard, the electricity authority and other volunteers also participated in the endeavour.

According to the forestry department a force remains in the area, to deal with any flare-ups.