NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — A recent report from U.S. experts revealed that one of Cyprus' most devastating wildfires was ignited by a carelessly discarded cigarette. The investigation, conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), concluded that the fire was caused by "a carelessly discarded cigarette coming into contact with dry vegetation."
The wildfire occurred in July near the coastal town of Limassol, resulting in the tragic deaths of two individuals, the destruction of 700 structures, and the scorching of over 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) of land. The area where the fire started was found littered with cigarette butts, indicating human negligence. The report highlighted that the environmental conditions at the time were particularly conducive to ignition, featuring strong winds, low humidity, and high temperatures reaching 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to the ATF report, the probability of ignition due to carelessly discarded smoking materials was assessed to be 100%, based on environmental factors and witness accounts. The investigation spanned 10 days and was prompted by a request from President Nikos Christodoulides. Over 250 firefighters and 14 aircraft were deployed to combat the wildfire that spread across hilly terrain over two days.
The government of Cyprus had previously indicated that the combination of strong winds, elevated temperatures, and extremely dry conditions—resulting from three consecutive winters of minimal rainfall—created a "perfect storm" for the wildfire's rapid spread. Unfortunately, the fire claimed the lives of an elderly couple who perished while attempting to escape the advancing flames in their vehicle, which was later recovered at the side of a mountain road leading to Limassol.
The publication of the ATF report came alongside a study that linked climate change to the severity of wildfires impacting regions in Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. The World Weather Attribution study suggested that the intense fires experienced this summer, which resulted in 20 fatalities, forced 80,000 people to evacuate, and burned more than 1 million hectares (2.47 million acres), were 22% more intense in 2025 compared to previous years. This summer was noted as Europe’s worst recorded year for wildfires.
The situation highlights the critical influence of climate change on the frequency and intensity of wildfires, as increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall have driven blazes to burn with unprecedented ferocity across the eastern Mediterranean.
