An increase in the total number of fires by 6,51% compared to the previous year, as well as the financial losses from the fires estimated by the Fire Service, which for 2025 amount to 134.576.665 euros and are mainly due to the fire in the mountainous Limassol, the Fire Service records in its announcement today, which provides statistical data for the year 2025, while emphasizing that over 94% of the fires are due to the human factor and human activities. The burned area of the countryside in 2025 amounted to 133,46 sq. km and was increased by 116,99 sq. km. compared to 2024.
According to the data, the Fire Department responded during the year 2025 to a total of 13.401 calls for assistance, which concerned fires, special services and false calls.
With regard to fires, it is reported that the Fire Service responded to a total of 7.154 fires nationwide, of which 3.569 concerned rural fires and 3.585 urban fires, with the total number of fires (urban and rural) showing an increase of 6,51%.
Regarding wildfires, it is noted that for 2025 an increase is observed, with the total number reaching 3.569 and the percentage increasing by 8,81% compared to 2024, when the recorded number was 3280.
In particular, the Fire Service reports that Rural Fires in 2025 showed an increase of 8,81%, with the increase being particularly evident in the months of January (+30,26%), February (+33,88%) and March (+18,60%), mainly due to the drought that prevailed from late 2024 to early 2025, as well as due to defective chimneys and fireplaces. In addition, a significant increase of 40,95% was recorded in April, due to the burning of lampreys and other useless objects in the countryside during the Easter holidays.
Regarding fires during the summer months, it is reported that these arise mainly from the habit of some farmers to burn fields (scorching) after harvesting, as well as from deliberate burning outside the legal season and without a permit. However, a reduction in wildfires is observed during the fire season (July-October), as a result of the Fire Service's prevention campaigns, with public information through television and radio participations of the Press and Public Relations Office. In addition, the role of patrols by the Fire Service, the Forestry Department, the Police and the Hunting Service, as well as other Organized Groups, was decisive, while the tightening of penalties for causing fires also had a significant contribution.
Regarding the causes of wildfires, it is reported that they are mainly due to arson, deliberate burning, burning of garbage, discarding of cigarette butts, use of tools that cause sparks, preparation of food in unauthorized areas or other human activities in the open air with the potential to cause a fire. Furthermore, based on some arrests by the Police, testimonies, as well as the conditions of the place and time of occurrence of the fires, it was found that some of them were malicious, particularly in the districts of Limassol and Paphos.
"It is observed for yet another year that a large percentage of 87,59% of the total number of wildfires for the year 2025 (3126 out of 3569) is due to unauthorized fire lighting, which falls under the category of "malicious act", while the contribution of the human factor in causing wildfires exceeds 94%," it is emphasized.
Regarding urban fires, it is reported that an increase of 4,31% is recorded, as 3.585 fires occurred in urban areas in 2025, compared to 3.437 in 2024. The main places where urban fires occur include plots of land, motor vehicles, private residences, apartments, parking lots of apartment buildings, other premises, public roads, riverbeds, garbage cans and other places.
It is added that the main causes were electrical problems, failure of electrical appliances in homes or premises, electrical or mechanical problems in vehicles, cigarette butts, malicious acts and arson, defective chimneys and fireplaces, incorrect use of heating stoves and cooking appliances, negligent use of tools or devices in workplaces, as well as lamplighters or burning other useless objects during the Easter holidays, with the human factor, as noted, playing a significant role in causing fires, with a percentage of over 95%.
Special mention is made by the Fire Department to the burned area of the countryside, which for 2025 amounts to 133,46 sq.km., increased by 116,99 sq.km. compared to 2024 (16,47 sq.km.), mainly due to the increase in the total number of rural fires compared to the previous year, while a significant contribution to the increase in the burned area was made by the devastating fire that broke out in July in mountainous Limassol, which burned approximately 120 sq.km. of dry grass, wild vegetation, vineyards and trees, as well as houses, premises, vehicles, machinery and stakes of the A.H.K. and the A.TH.K.
The financial aspect of the losses also appears to have increased significantly for 2025. As recorded, estimated approximately by the Fire Service for internal purposes, the losses for 2025 amount to 134.576.665 euros, of which 14.018.680 euros concerned urban fires and 120.557.985 euros concerned rural fires, it is noted below, while respectively, in 2024 there was a total amount of losses of 29.580.390 euros, of which the amount of 26.702.420 million euros concerned urban fires and the amount of 2.877.970 euros concerned rural fires. The significant increase in the amount of damages is due to the extensive destruction caused by the fire in the Limassol mountains in July, where damage was sustained, in addition to the countryside, to crops, houses and other premises, as well as vehicles, machinery and piles of the A.H.K. and the A.TH.K.
The Fire Department also reports that the total number of people rescued, injured or killed due to fires amounted to 45 in 2025, compared to 61 in 2024, while the number of Special Services responses in 2025 showed a decrease of 1,09% compared to 2024.
Furthermore, in 2025, the Fire Service rescued 2.307 people after traffic collisions, technological or work accidents, as well as people trapped in faulty elevators or other spaces, while also including cases of people rescued from tall buildings, cliffs, water surfaces and mountainous areas.
Regarding false calls, it is reported that an increase of 34,2% is observed for 2025, with their total number reaching 988, an increase of 252 compared to 2024, when 736 calls were recorded. The vast majority of them, at 97%, concern calls with a good intention, which proves the public's hypersensitivity to issues of prevention and timely notification of suppression groups, it is added.
Source: KYPE
