Authorities on standby to evacuate Fasoula residents as Paphos fire rages (Update)

A wild bushfire was raging close to the Stavrokonnou community in Paphos, which spiraled out of control within an hour, burning over five donums of land on Friday night.

Police and the civil defence were on standby to help residents in the Fasoula community evacuate if it becomes necessary, fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis said shortly before midnight.

At around 10pm, he posted that an evacuation was already underway – only for a later update to clarify this had not taken place as it had not been necessary.

Kettis said the flames began at 8:53pm and by midnight the fire was raging on three fronts.

“Ground forces are working tirelessly to contain the fire,” he said. At least five donums of dry vegetation and wild shrub were burned.

Four firefighting trucks from Paphos were at the scene and six from the forestry department.

The timing of the fire was exceptionally difficult as the brunt of the fire service was fighting to keep another fire in Limassol’s Alassa region under control, which had been raging since 2pm.