Fire near Paphos villages nearly under control

Fire Situation Improves, Close to Containment

The wildfire that erupted on Sunday afternoon between the villages of Tsada and Koili is now close to being brought under control. According to the fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis, the situation has significantly improved, with the blaze described as “close to containment.” He highlighted that the firefighting efforts were coordinated from the beginning by the Paphos assistant district officer, and the director of operations is now on-site.

At the height of the operation, 13 aircraft were placed on standby, with nine deployed to combat the fire. Ground forces from across Cyprus remain actively involved in the effort. The exact number of personnel involved will be announced later, Kettis added.

Kettis also mentioned that the defense, agriculture, and transport ministers visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) to monitor developments. Meanwhile, police confirmed that the main Paphos–Polis Chrysochous road, which was closed around 4:30 pm due to the fire, has now reopened. However, the road leading to the village of Koili remains closed.

Evacuation and Firefighting Efforts

Earlier, the civil defence carried out a partial and precautionary evacuation of 25 homes in Tsada, according to its spokesman Panayiotis Liasis. No evacuations were necessary in the nearby village of Koili. Liasis noted that 25 civil defence officers were assisting in the firefighting effort, with 23 deployed at the scene, one at the coordination centre, and one at the Paphos police station.

Although some houses came under threat, damage was prevented, and the situation is now “somewhat improved,” he said. The head of the forestry department, Savvas Iezekiel, told CNA that “we are heading towards putting out the fire and we are on the right track,” noting that a large number of his department’s firefighting forces are assisting in the operation.

The blaze, which started at 3:24 pm in a streambed beginning in Tremithousa and stretching between Tsada and Koili, spread rapidly due to dry vegetation and strong winds.

Rapid Spread and Emergency Response

According to Tsada community leader Marios Ioannou, the fire advanced so quickly that “within five minutes it was approaching houses.” Firefighters and civil defence crews had to evacuate one resident who initially refused to leave his home. “Thanks to the immediate response of the fire brigade, the worst was averted,” Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency, noting that neither the man nor his property suffered damage.

The president of the Koili community council, Michalakis Efthymiou, said the fire reached the area between Tsada and Koili, with flames coming dangerously close to the church at Melissovouno. “The swift intervention of ground and aerial forces prevented disaster,” he said, adding that while an evacuation of Koili was considered, it was not carried out after authorities determined that local homes were not under direct threat.

Support from Multiple Agencies

Local Paphos firefighting forces were heavily reinforced by units from Larnaca, Limassol, and Nicosia. The forestry department, civil defence, the game and fauna service, and several volunteer groups also joined the effort. Aircraft operating under the national ‘Icarus 2’ plan were deployed, while fire chief Nikos Longinos headed to the JRCC as the national wildfire plan ‘Pyrsos’ was activated, requiring immediate coordination among all competent bodies.

The blaze burned through dry grass and wild vegetation in a rugged area, making firefighting efforts particularly challenging. The cause of the fire will be investigated once it has been fully extinguished.