Paphos fire caused by broken glass

A wildfire which broke out in the Paphos district village of Pelathousa was caused by broken glass, Paphos police’s assistant operations director Michalis Nikolaou said on Friday.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), he said the fire had broken out at around 1.35pm on Thursday.

Broken glass in the area where the fire had started had refracted the sun’s rays, creating sparks and thus starting the fire.

Forestry department director Savvas Iezekiel said the fire had burned dry vegetation and that aerial support had been brought in to tackle the blaze.

Fire brigade spokesman Andreas Kettis said around three hectares of fire had been burnt in the fire, alongside irrigation hoses, trees, and two tin sheds.