14 fires and 25 rescue operations occurred in Northern Cyprus over the past week

The Fire Department of Northern Cyprus published its weekly report, according to which, between September 30 and October 6, there were 14 fires and 25 special rescue operations across the country.

The total material damage is estimated at approximately 1.54 million Turkish liras.

Where the fires occurred

The highest number of fires was recorded in the Girne and Famagusta districts — four in each. Two fires occurred in Lefkoşa, two in Vadili, one in İskele, and one in Çağlayan.

Main causes of fires

According to firefighters, most fires were caused by:

• short circuits in electrical wiring;
• unextinguished cigarette butts and embers;
• burning garbage and dry grass;
• overheating of car engines and fuel systems;
• careless handling of fire and children’s mischief.

Rescue operations

In addition to extinguishing fires, fire brigades responded to 25 special calls. These included rescuing people stuck in elevators, retrieving pets from hard-to-reach places, freeing children from locked vehicles, rescuing animals that fell into wells, assisting in traffic accidents, and transporting bodies for forensic examination.

Public warning

The Fire Department reminded that until October 31, open fires are prohibited in rural and forest areas of Northern Cyprus. Violators face administrative penalties.

Residents are strongly advised to:

• not discard burning cigarette butts or matches;
• avoid lighting bonfires or burning grass;
• check the condition of electrical devices and home appliances;
• always keep fire extinguishing means at hand;
• immediately report any signs of fire to emergency services.

The Fire Department emphasized that most fires can be prevented by observing basic safety measures and acting responsibly when handling fire.