Newsroom
A team of elite U.S. fire investigators arrived in Cyprus Wednesday to begin an in-depth look into the recent wildfires that ravaged the mountains of Limassol.
The ten-member team, from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is among the world’s top experts in fire and arson investigations. They were brought in at the request of President Nikos Christodoulides as part of the government’s push to understand not just how the fire started but how it was handled.
The team starts work today.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou told CNA that the Americans will carry out a thorough on-site inspection, what officials are calling an “autopsy” of the burn area, with special focus on the spot where the first smoke was reported. Their visit is expected to last about ten days.
After that, the team will present a preliminary review of their findings to the president. A more detailed, written report will follow.
The arrival of the ATF team marks a significant moment for Cyprus’ firefighting and disaster response efforts. These investigators don’t just look for matches or lightning strikes; they dig into everything from forest conditions to command decisions made in the heat of the moment. Their expertise has been used in some of the most high-profile fire cases in the U.S. and abroad.
The U.S. Embassy in Nicosia welcomed the team with a statement on X, calling them “ten of the world’s leading fire researchers” and applauding the close cooperation between Cyprus and the United States, “especially in times of crisis.”
The exact cause of the Limassol fires, along with questions about how quickly they were spotted and how efficiently they were tackled—has sparked both public concern and political pressure.
The government hopes this international expert review will not only provide answers but also point the way to improvements for the future.
More updates are expected as the team’s investigation unfolds.
