Police investigate two Lysos fires amid forestry department arson concerns
Police are investigating two fires in Lysos after forestry officials said the incidents may have been deliberately started.
Lysos, Cyprus. Police have launched an investigation into the causes of two fires that broke out in Lysos on Saturday, following concerns from the forestry department that they may have been deliberately started.
The fires occurred around 500 metres apart and came amid a series of incidents reported in recent years in the wider Paphos area.
Fires brought under control
The first fire began at about 4pm in the Potamoudes area and burned approximately seven hectares before being brought under control at around 6pm.
A second fire broke out shortly afterwards in the Mersinia area.
Forestry department spokesman Glafkos Kyriakou said the two incidents pointed to a malicious act.
Concerns over repeated incidents
Forestry department director Savvas Ezekiel said on Sunday that repeated fires in Paphos had raised concerns about possible arson.
He said the two fires followed a series of incidents reported in recent years between Droushia and Prodromos, as well as in Skoulli and Lysos.
“We cannot have five fires starting from Droushia to Prodromos as consecutive incidents,” he said.
Ezekiel said the phenomenon in the area he described as a “triangle” occurred every year and required closer investigation. He added that he was prepared to submit proposals concerning the area at forthcoming meetings.
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