The exact start point of last month’s deadly Limassol fire has been identified by the American experts, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday, adding that a comprehensive report with full details will be handed over in the next couple of weeks.

“The report will form the basis of the government’s assessment for taking the next steps,” Letymbiotis said.

He was speaking after the meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and the team of American wildfire experts from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), who carried out investigations into the cause of the July 23 fire which left two people dead and 124km² land burned.

Christodoulides thanked the ATF for their support “in every stage of the investigations” and said he was looking forward to receiving further input from the US experts.

“We’re ready to listen (…),” the president said. “And we’re always very glad to work with the US government.”

While concrete information on the outbreak and cause of the fire could only be provided once the report was completed, Letymbiotis said the US experts had put together “a detailed timetable” based on a comprehensive set of data including information from authorities as well as personal interviews.

“[The experts] have utilised all technological possibilities through the information at their disposal,” he said. This included simulations and daily site visits, he added.

The findings of the experts revealed that the fire started at one point, Letymbiotis said.

“On the basis of these findings, a thorough assessment of everything that happened that day can be made,” Letymbiotis added.

He stressed that, in view of prevalent climatic conditions, both Cyprus and the European Union needed to assess the findings of the report and “make the most of it.”

Earlier, when the team arrived to meet Christodoulides, he had said the fire situation in Cyprus will get worse and worse, so we need to be ready.

Pointing to wildfires in southern Europe, he said he considered them a “collective challenge” and emphasised the need for cooperation with the US beyond the wildfire issue.

In this context, Letymbiotis added that the government had already turned to the European Union to provide financial support for the damages caused by the fires.

“Meetings have been held at ministerial and officials’ levels, and contact persons have been appointed by each competent ministry,” Letymbiotis said.

Letymbiotis confirmed that the ATF report would be made public, however added that the government needed to ensure that it did not contain any personal data before it could be released.

The President thanked the ATF for their support “in every stage of the investigations” and said that he was eager to receive further input from the US experts.

“As soon as I assumed my duties we started collaborating with the FBI to help us face [different] challenges and we are very glad that we have this cooperation at all levels, political security, economic trade,” he said

The ATF thanked Cyprus officials for their cooperation.

“They’ve assisted us in every facet of our investigation,” the head of the team said.

It said it was looking forward to presenting the findings of their investigations into the fire.

“It will hopefully be eye opening and support the next phase of strategies for combatting wildfires in Cyprus,” the team head said.

The fire was the largest wildfire in the history of the island.