Cyprus' defense minister has ordered an investigation into why National Guard engineers detonated discarded ammunition, igniting a brush fire that burned approximately 300 acres of wild growth. The incident occurred at the Kalo Chorio firing range on the island's southern coast during the summer fire season, a period when such activities are typically prohibited.
Defense Minister Vassilis Palmas stated Monday that he has "intense dissatisfaction and strong irritation" with the engineers' actions. The detonation involved a half-dozen rocket-propelled grenade projectiles. The minister emphasized that protocols exist regarding the timing and methods for weapons disposal and that the engineering battalion should have consulted the National Guard Command before proceeding.
"You understand that I will act with all the severity that is provided for under such circumstances," Palmas told reporters. He indicated that a report on the incident should be ready within a couple of weeks.
Approximately 100 firefighters, aided by eight aircraft, worked to control the blaze. The fire prompted the precautionary evacuation of two small communities located near the fire's edge, though no homes or other property were damaged. The minister confirmed that the fire scorched about 120 hectares (300 acres) of vegetation.
Cyprus has experienced increasingly arid winters and scorching summers in recent years, creating conditions ripe for wildfires. Last year, the island nation endured one of its most devastating wildfires in recent memory, which resulted in the deaths of an elderly couple attempting to escape the rapidly advancing flames along a mountain road.
As a regional firefighting hub, Cyprus is also positioned to assist Middle Eastern countries in combating major wildfires.