Limassol: The arrival of a specialized team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) marks the beginning of U.S. support to Cyprus in handling the severe wildfire in the Limassol district, as stated by the US Embassy in a written communication to the Cyprus News Agency.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Embassy emphasized that while the primary focus of the team is to investigate the cause and spread of the fires, there is a commitment to collaborate closely with Cyprus authorities to identify additional ways to support disaster response and mitigation efforts. The Embassy reiterated the U.S.’s readiness to assist Cyprus during crises.
The Embassy detailed that the team, consisting of ten American fire experts from the ATF, arrived in Cyprus on August 6. The invitation from President Nikos Christodoulides aims for them to examine the origin and progression of the fires that ravaged Limassol on July 23-24. Known as some of the leading fire investigators globally, these specialis
ts have begun their fieldwork and are expected to stay in Cyprus for at least ten days to perform field assessments.
The experts bring with them a wealth of experience in probing fires of similar magnitude, including the Palisades fire which occurred in the Santa Monica Mountains in January 2025. They have previously responded to numerous significant fires both within the United States and internationally, as noted in the Embassy’s statement.
Upon concluding their investigations, the team will conduct an initial evaluation and subsequently provide a detailed report to President Christodoulides after their return to the United States, the Embassy confirmed.