Government officials in Cyprus are bracing for a huge bill with fire damages for 2016 set to take the island back some €112 million.
The damage caused by the June fires in the Solea region of Troodos, alone, has been estimated to be around €101.4m, or 0.6% of the Gross National Income.
The remaining fires across the island, meanwhile, have been calculated to cost around €10m.
Some 65% of last year’s fires (numbering 4,385) in urban areas occurred when crop burning fires spiral out of control while 9.56% (645) were set by arsonists but did not involve deliberate damage to cars. Car arson attacks take fourth place at 2.8% or 189 cases. The causes of the third highest number of fires have not been determined by the Fire Services.
Meanwhile, 169 fires were the result of a cigarette butt not being properly extinguished, 163 were due to short circuits, and 95 to appliance overheating. Some 84 fires at homes were due to faulty chimneys, while 74 were caused by cooking oil overheating. Sixty-one fires involved ‘lambradjia’ Easter bonfires while 17 unwanted blazes were caused by unattended candles. A further 75 fires were the result of people losing control of fires during stubble burning.
In rural areas, meanwhile, 83.1% or 3,215 fires were the result of crop burning, 132 or 3.39% the result of a criminal act and 102 blazes caused by a cigarette butt not being properly extinguished. A further 74 fires were the result of people losing control of fires during stubble burning.
During 2016, the Fire Services responded to 11,559 calls for assistance of which 6,750 involved extinguishing fires, 4,178 for special services such as freeing people from car wrecks or lifts. A further 596 were prank calls while 35 calls involved the Fire Services accompanying ambulances. Fire Services personnel rescued 2,041 people in 2016, including from car wrecks and lifts, as well as from collapsed buildings.
Last year, the Forestry Department concluded its assessment of the Troodos fires bringing the total burnt area to 18.5 square kilometres, which was more than authorities initially believed. The damage cost is set to put the government back some €101.4m.
The department has run the figures from June 19, showing that the total area of burnt land included 17.03 square kilometres of state forest and 1.54 square kilometres of private land, bringing the total devastation to an area of 18.57 square kilometres.
The burnt forest includes 12.96km2 of Ayios Theodoros and 4km2 of Kapouras, both valleys mainly consisting of pine trees and other grasses in the same tree family.