Nine out of ten forest fires are caused by human activities according to the Department of Forests.
In statements to CNA, Petros Petrou, Fire protection officer at the Department of Forests said that from 2000-2020 a total of 1,068 fires broke out mostly due to human activities which includes lighting fires to burn agricultural remnants, smokers throwing cigarette butts or matches, the use of welding, circular saw or any other equipment that produces sparks or the lighting of fires in areas which do not have specially constructed grills, that can be found at picnic and camping sites or fires caused by short circuit of electricity cables.
Such was the case at Sunday’s fire a Tala village in the Paphos district, he added.
Source: Cyprus News Agency