One of the most devastating fires in Cyprus in recent memory was caused by a cigarette discarded on the side of a mountain road, a report by US experts said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report concluded that the ‘accidental’ cause of the fire was a ‘carelessly discarded cigarette that came into contact with dry vegetation’.
The fire in July near the coastal city of Limassol claimed the lives of two people, destroyed 700 structures and burned more than 40 square miles.
The ATF report said a search of the area where the fire initially started revealed several cigarette butts scattered on the ground on the side of a road connecting the mountain villages of Malia and Arsos.
Investigators noted that environmental conditions at the time were ‘extremely conducive to any ignition, including ignition from carelessly discarded tobacco materials’.
Strong winds, low humidity and temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius at the time made the possibility of ignition 100%, according to experts who also took into account witness statements, videos and photographs, as well as the contribution of investigators from the Cyprus Fire Service.
The ATF team visited the eastern Mediterranean island to conduct its 10-day investigation at the request of President Nikos Christodoulides.
More than 250 firefighters and 14 aircraft battled to control the fire that burned on multiple fronts in hilly terrain over two days.
At the time, the government said the combination of strong winds, high temperatures and very dry conditions after three winters with minimal rainfall created a perfect storm at the height of the fires. /Telegraph/