Two fires broke out in Nicosia, both under control

A fire broke out on Friday afternoon near the State Fair between Engomi and Anthoupolis.

According to fire department spokesman, Andreas Kettis, the fire broke out on dry grass and was closing in on the buffer zone. Black smoke covered Engomi and homes were endangered with residents rushing out to help.

The fire service initially responded with one vehicle and was then reinforced by two more from Nicosia’s fire stations, one fire truck from the forestry department, and a portable firefighting unit from the game and fauna service, which succeeded in bringing the fire under control in the early afternoon. The fire burned a total area of ​​about 10 hectares of dry grass, wild vegetation and saplings and severely damaged a warehouse.

The fire trucks will remain in the area until complete demarcation and extinguishing of small fires, while the causes of the fire are under investigation.

Meanwhile, a fire which broke out in Klirou at the same time, was also under control. The firefighting operation involved 12 people from the forestry department, four firefighting vehicles, three firefighters from the fire brigade with one vehicle, volunteers with small fire engines and three private tractors.

The fire burned an area of one and a half hectares of wild vegetation.