A 33 year old has admitted to starting a fire in his effort to destroy dry weeds. Witnesses came forward saying they saw him lighting the fire early yesterday afternoon outside the Ayios Therapon village in mountainous Limassol.
The fire service rushed to the Mylos area after a call around three, dispatching crews in four vehicles, with an additional two vehicles assisting from the forestry department and the community council. The fire was put out five hours later, after torching five hectares of dry weeds, shrubbery and carob trees.
Crews worked in rough terrain but coordinated efforts helped extinguish the blaze before spreading to surrounding areas.
The 33 year old was remanded in custody in connection with the case, as the Limassol CID investigates.
Lighting a fire in forested or other rural areas without permission is a criminal offence, punishable with imprisonment or heavy fines, depending on the case.
