Fire in Orounda burns dry grass and damages drilling rig

A fire broke out on Friday afternoon near the Agios Nikolaos monastery in Orounda, burning about one decare (1,000 square metres) of dry grass and wild vegetation. The blaze also caused extensive damage to a drilling rig working on site.

According to a statement from fire service spokesman Andreas Kettis, the fire started at 3.05pm. Firefighters from Nicosia responded with three staffed fire engines, supported by another three vehicles from the forestry department.

The drilling rig, which was located inside a ravine carrying out drilling work, suffered heavy damage from the fire. Kettis said the fire appears to have been caused by a malfunction in the operation of the drilling rig.

In total, the fire service dealt with 46 incidents in the past 24 hours. These included 20 fires and 26 special assistance operations.

The swift response helped prevent the fire from spreading further. While the damage to vegetation was limited to one decare, the impact on the drilling equipment highlights risks associated with such operations in dry and vulnerable environments.

Officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the malfunction. No injuries were reported, and emergency crews praised the cooperation between the fire service and forestry department in quickly containing the blaze.

This incident serves as a reminder of the potential fire hazards in rural areas, especially during dry conditions. Authorities urge caution when carrying out machinery work near vegetation to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks.