**NICOSIA** – The transition into the New Year was marred by a spate of fires and other emergencies across Cyprus, with the Fire Service reporting a significant increase in calls and preliminary investigations pointing towards intentional acts in several instances. Authorities are particularly concerned about blazes attributed to groups of youths, which resulted in considerable damage to private property and necessitated extensive emergency response over the festive period.
In the span of 24 hours leading up to the reports, the Cyprus Fire Service was dispatched to a total of 46 incidents. This included 33 fires and 13 other emergency responses, underscoring the heightened demands placed upon the service during the New Year celebrations. Andreas Kettis, the spokesperson for the Fire Service, confirmed that several of these fires are strongly suspected to have been deliberately ignited. "Initial assessments suggest that the fires were intentionally set by groups of youths," Kettis stated, highlighting a worrying trend observed in multiple locations.
The Nicosia district bore witness to several such incidents. In Strovolos, in the early hours of New Year's Day, a 20-year-old woman's car, parked outside her residence, became the target of arsonists. Fortunately, the occupants of the home managed to subdue the flames before the arrival of emergency services. Despite their efforts, the vehicle sustained severe damage. The Fire Service dispatched two engines to the scene to ensure the incident was fully contained.
Further afield in the Famagusta district, the revelry was disrupted by two separate blazes. In Deryneia, shortly after midnight, two motorcycles were rendered unserviceable by a fire that erupted in the central community square. A fire engine from the Famagusta station was deployed to combat the flames. Barely an hour later, in the nearby town of Paralimni, a substantial 1,100-litre waste bin was ignited in the main square, requiring the response of a single staffed vehicle.
The Nicosia district saw another vehicle fire on Tuesday afternoon in Pera Oreinis. A car, parked in a sheltered area beneath a two-storey dwelling, caught alight. The homeowner intervened effectively with a garden hose, limiting the damage to the vehicle's engine compartment before the Fire Service arrived. Two fire engines attended this incident, and while the owner's quick action mitigated further spread, the car suffered considerable damage.
In Kiti, Larnaca district, the New Year commenced with a destructive fire that engulfed two vehicles parked in an open space, shortly after midnight. Firefighters, equipped with breathing apparatus, worked to extinguish the blaze, which left both vehicles extensively damaged. Two fire engines were dispatched to this location.
While many of these incidents are being investigated as deliberate acts, authorities are also considering other potential causes for some blazes. The fire in Pera Oreinis, for instance, is preliminarily thought to have originated from a mechanical or electrical fault, though investigations are ongoing to ascertain the definitive cause. The Nicosia CID and the police are actively involved in these investigations, aiming to identify the perpetrators responsible for the spate of arsons and to fully understand the circumstances surrounding each incident. The cumulative impact of these events not only highlights the dedication and resilience of the Cyprus Fire Service but also raises concerns about public safety and the destructive potential of intentional acts, particularly during periods of heightened social activity.