Limassol wildfire enters third day: “We didn’t expect a fire like this,” says fire chief

As the wildfire that erupted Wednesday in the mountainous region of Limassol enters its third day, Greek Cypriot authorities warn that high winds and extreme temperatures could reignite danger—especially toward the vulnerable Troodos forest. Although most of the fire is under control, flare-ups continue to challenge exhausted firefighting crews.

On Friday, Cyprus Fire Service Chief Nicos Longinos publicly apologized for not being able to assist everyone affected by the devastating blaze, which left two people dead, destroyed dozens of homes, and forced the evacuation of thousands. “We didn’t expect it would reach these levels,” Longinos said on state TV, calling the situation the worst he has encountered in 35 years of service.

“We had limited resources and had to set priorities,” he added, explaining that the emergency plan was activated swiftly, but the scale of the fire—and the speed with which it spread—overwhelmed the system.

Longinos dismissed criticism directed at the president or ministers, insisting he was solely responsible for operational decisions. “The president was constantly informed and coordinated with other European states as the fire escalated,” he said.

While the fire is believed to have been caused by arson, Longinos clarified that this was “no excuse” for the challenges faced in containing it. “Ninety-five percent of wildfires are human-caused,” he noted.

Additional firefighting personnel from Greece arrived Friday to help combat flare-ups, especially in areas like Omodos, where the fire nearly reached dense pine forests. “If it had moved further uphill, the situation would have been catastrophic,” Longinos said.

He warned that the region’s terrain—marked by ravines and valleys—can accelerate wind speed, creating microclimates that favor the resurgence of fires. “The coming days will be critical,” he said. “We remain on high alert.”

Despite the intense criticism, Longinos maintained that crews arrived on the scene just six minutes after the fire started. “We did our best to save as many homes and lives as possible,” he said. “But this was an unprecedented emergency for Cyprus.”