A discarded cigarette caused the devastating wildfires sweeping through Limassol district last month, according to the findings of American investigators released on Thursday.

“The cause of the fire was a carelessly discarded cigarette coming into contact with dry vegetation,” read the report by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) of the US government.

After examining the site, and reviewing witness testimony as well as photographs and video, the US investigators concluded the fire originated along the edge of the road between Malia and Arsos.

The report classified the blaze as accidental.

It stated that the fire was first reported at approximately 1.20pm on July 23. As it spread and spun out of control, it burned through 25,000 acres by the time it was contained.

“Overall, the total area affected by fire corresponds to approximately 1.3 per cent of the island’s total area.”

The inferno completely gutted 224 homes, while 308 other residences were partially burned. About 300 vehicles were destroyed or damaged.

Fifty per cent concerned grassland, 31 per cent dry vegetation, 16 per cent tree vegetation, and 1.3 per cent residential areas.

There were two fatalities – an elderly couple trapped in their car engulfed by the flames.

The ATF’s International Response Team – invited here by President Nikos Christodoulides – conducted a fire scene examination from August 7 to August 11.

According to the Americans, the fire hazard in Cyprus this summer was exacerbated by a prolonged drought.

Tracing their investigative work, they said that “no electrical equipment was found within the general origin area or specific origin area”.

Also, no other evidence of electrical sources of ignition was observed in these areas.

Employing technical jargon, the American investigators say that due to the prevailing weather conditions at the time, they estimate the ignition probability at 100 per cent.

The probability of ignition is defined as the chance that a firebrand will cause an ignition when it lands on receptive fuel beds. A firebrand is any source of heat, natural or manmade, capable of lighting wildland fuels.

“A systematic examination of the ignition area turned up a partially burned cigarette butt and a completely burned cigarette butt.”

The two cigarette butts were secured as evidence and turned over to Cyprus authorities.

Additional cigarette butts were located within several metres of the ignition area but were unburned and the vegetation immediately adjacent to them was unburned as well.”

After examining all available evidence, the ATF ruled out the following as causes: the use of firearms or explosives; fireworks; misuse of a fire by a minor; a lightning strike; refraction via glass; or other causes such as spontaneous combustion. They also ruled out sparks caused by ceramic break pads on a vehicle that come into contact with the road surface.

At the point of origin of the fire, investigators found a large amount of garbage that had been dumped in the area.

“Based on the amount of garbage present and the condition of the items that were dumped, it appears the area has been used for illegal dumping for an extended period,” the report said.

Another segment of the report cites what a witness to the fire told authorities. The name of the person is redacted.

The individual was traveling to a job in the village of Arsos to take some measurements as part of his employment as a furniture maker.

“On the date of the fire at approximately 1250 hours, [name redacted] was traveling from Lofou to Arsos. On the road between Malia and Arsos, [name redacted] discovered a small fire burning on the right-hand side (east) of the road. [Name redacted] immediately stopped his vehicle and called the fire department at 1326 hours.”

The ATF fire experts visited the site in question.

“Due to the steep terrain, [name redacted] was unable to put the fire out. Once [name redacted] knew the fire department was on their way, he left the scene to continue his work. [name redacted] continued to complete his work, and 45 minutes later drove by the location where he had witnessed the fire burning.”

Once back at the location where the fire was burning, the person saw firefighters on scene attempting to put the fire out.

The first water drops on the fire took place at approximately 2.20pm, a senior Cypriot firefighter told the ATF.

Another witness, a resident of Malia village, told authorities she first spotted a fire across Malia at around 1.20pm on the day. She and a neighbour called the police and the fire department.

The same witness, whose name is blacked out, stated that she “did not see anything suspicious near the location where the fire began, nor did she see anyone leaving the scene of the fire”.

Another resident of Malia told of how he noticed “a very small fire, approximately one square metre in size burning.

The witness described the winds as strong at the time. He immediately called the fire department, but did not receive an answer. He then called Pachna police at around 1.30pm to inform them about the fire. The police told him they were already aware of the fire and that the fire department was on the way.