A cigarette is blamed for the deadly July wildfire in Limassol, according to a report by American experts from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), released today by the Cypriot government.
The report confirms that the blaze, which broke out on 23 July 2025 and spread rapidly through the mountainous areas of Limassol, was caused by the careless disposal of a cigarette that came into contact with dry vegetation. Investigators found two cigarette butts at the ignition point—one partially burned and the other completely charred—which were collected as evidence and handed over to Cypriot authorities.
The cigarette is blamed for the rapid and devastating spread of the fire. At 13:26 on the day it began, the fire was first spotted as a small flame one metre high and three metres wide. Just 17 minutes later, by 13:43, it had engulfed 1.5 hectares (15,000 square metres). By 13:55, the burnt area had expanded to two hectares and had already reached the village of Malia.
The terrain of the area played a critical role in allowing the fire to spread in all directions, regardless of wind direction. The report states that strong winds, together with local topography, caused the fire to advance at a speed of 60 to 63 metres per minute.
Using satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, meteorological data, and on-site inspection, ATF experts were able to pinpoint the ignition zone to a 30-by-30 cm area along the Malia–Arsos road. The report categorises the incident as an accident and rules out other possible causes, such as arson, lightning, fireworks, explosives, machinery, or glass reflection.
The fire ultimately burned a total of 10,117 hectares—approximately 104 square kilometres, or 1.3% of Cyprus’s landmass. It claimed the lives of two people, injured four others (three with burns and one from respiratory issues), and led to extensive property damage: 224 homes were completely destroyed, 308 were partially damaged, and dozens of businesses, warehouses, and vehicles were also affected.
The report details the response timeline. The first calls were made to police and fire services at 13:26, and initial efforts to contain the blaze began within the hour. Despite reinforced patrols being deployed due to a prior orange weather warning, the blaze spread uncontrollably due to high winds (up to 9 on the Beaufort scale), 39°C temperatures, and extremely low humidity of 19%.
Evacuation orders were issued across 17 communities, starting with Malia at 14:00 on 23 July and ending in Omodos at 14:35 the next day.
Experts noted the presence of long-abandoned rubbish in the ignition area—appliances, tyres, clothing, and bottles—but found no evidence these contributed to the fire’s cause. While another small blaze in the area a week earlier may have been caused by waste or a discarded cigarette, that event is considered unrelated.
Also read: Elderly woman found dead after house fire in Pervolia
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