A fire which officials suspect was started deliberately was extinguished a little after midnight on Thursday after raging for four hours between Kato and Pano Pyrgos Tyllirias.
The fire broke out around 8 pm in private land in the Ayios Andronikos area, prompting the mobilisation of the fire service and fire department. A total of 14 fire trucks and 100 fire fighters attended the fire.
It raged for four hours, fanned by strong winds in difficult terrain and at some point, a National Guard sentry post was evacuated for precautionary reasons.
The Cyprus News Agency quoted officials as saying that it destroyed 30 hectares of pine trees, bushes and other wild vegetation near the state forest area .
Fire fighters remain on the scene to guard against flare ups.
Forestry Department director Charalambos Alexandrou said the fire was a result of a criminal action, as the time at which it broke out and its location indicate foul play.
The forestry department said it was on red alert today with temperatures set to rise to 41 C and appealed to the public to be particularly vigilant.
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