Larnaca fire under control (updated)

A fire that raged out of control in Larnaca near Phaneromenis Avenue has been put under control, authorities announced late on Tuesday.

The blaze started at 5pm near Kamares, Larnaca, threatening to consume a petrol station and nearby residences, while smoke ascended over most of the city.

It broke out in reed beds behind a petrol station, which had to temporarily shut down its pumps and cut off its power for fear of the fire reaching the petrol.

Fanned by strong winds, the blaze destroyed wild shrub.

But while Phaneromenis Avenue had been closed due to the risk of the fire spreading to the petrol station, by 7:30 the Fire Service was confident that it was safe to reopen it to traffic.

The Fire Service deployed ten fire engines to the scene to combat the blaze, while two excavators were used to carve out fire-breaks.

Another fire in the same area a day earlier, which was easily extinguished by the Fire Service, raised suspicions of arson.

“This is the second consecutive day that a fire breaks out in this area,” said Larnaca mayor Andreas Louroudjiatis.

“The time both fires broke out causes certain questions, according to the Fire Service.”

But Louroudjiatis raised another point about the area, which is designated a Natura 2000-protected site, meaning the shrubbery that caught on fire cannot be removed.

“Thirty per cent of the Larnaca municipality is made up of the salt lakes and the area surrounding them, which is a Natura area,” he said.

“We respect and protect the environment, but when faced with people’s safety and the protection of their property, the Larnaca municipality will take every measure necessary to prevent such instances in future.”

Asked to elaborate on the measures the municipality plans to take, Louroudjiatis merely said “whatever it takes”.