Two fires which broke out in forested areas in the Limassol district were “definitely set maliciously”, fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said on Sunday.

The first fire, he said, broke out during the morning between the villages of Omodos and Mandria, while the second broke out during the afternoon near the village of Anoyira.

Both were extinguished, but Kettis was keen to make clear his belief that both had been stared intentionally.

“The climatic and environmental conditions in the areas where they occurred are in no way favourable for them to start so easily, and they were definitely set maliciously,” he said.

As such, he called on the public to “be on alert, to observe, to keep guard, and to inform the authorities” if they notice suspicious behaviour in this regard.

“The smallest piece of information is important. We love this place, it is up to us to protect it,” he said.