A wildfire that killed two people and destroyed hundreds of homes in July was caused by a discarded cigarette, according to an investigation by a team of U.S. experts released Thursday.
The Limassol fire, which burned 25,000 acres near the village of Malia on July 23, 2025, was triggered when the cigarette ignited dry vegetation along a roadside during extreme weather conditions, investigators from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concluded.
The report also noted that the fire was likely an accident and was not caused by arson.
The blaze destroyed 532 homes and forced the evacuation of multiple villages in the Troodos Mountains region. Two people died when their vehicle was caught in the fire approximately 3.2 kilometers south of Monagri village.
Investigation
ATF’s International Response Team worked alongside Cypriot authorities to determine the fire’s origin. Investigators found cigarette butts in a 30-centimeter square area they identified as the ignition point between Malia and Arsos villages.
“Based on the discovery of thermally damaged cigarette butts within the ignition area coupled with witness statements and systematic fire scene examination, the hypothesis of carelessly discarded smoking material causing the Limassol Fire cannot be excluded,” the report stated.
The fire was classified as accidental after investigators systematically ruled out other potential causes including lightning, electrical equipment failure, and intentional ignition.
Extreme weather conditions
Weather conditions on the day of the fire created a perfect storm for rapid spread. Temperatures reached 39.1 degrees Celsius with relative humidity at just 19 percent and strong southwestern winds gusting up to 20.5 meters per second.
The Department of Meteorology had issued an extreme temperature warning the day before, and the region was experiencing prolonged drought conditions that made vegetation highly flammable, the report notes.
Casualties and damage
Beyond the two fatalities, four people were injured during evacuations, suffering burns and smoke inhalation. The fire destroyed or damaged:
- 532 homes (224 completely destroyed, 308 partially damaged)
- 113 commercial buildings and warehouses
- 300 vehicles
- Significant electrical infrastructure
The affected area represented approximately 1.3 percent of Cyprus’s total landmass, making it one of the most destructive fires in the island nation’s recent history.
Emergency response
The fire was first reported at 1:26 p.m. through emergency calls to Cyprus Police and Fire Service. Despite rapid deployment of firefighting resources, including aircraft with water-dropping capabilities, the extreme weather conditions made containment difficult.
The village of Malia was evacuated at 2:00 p.m., just over 30 minutes after the first reports. Multiple other communities were evacuated as the fire spread rapidly through the mountainous terrain.
Power was restored to affected areas by July 31, though electrical infrastructure repairs continued beyond that date.
Cyprus requested assistance from the ATF’s International Response Team on August 4, 2025. The specialized unit conducts fire origin and cause investigations worldwide and has previously assisted with major incidents in multiple countries.
The investigation utilised scientific methodology outlined in the National Fire Protection Association’s guidelines, including systematic fire pattern analysis, witness interviews, weather data examination, and electrical system assessment.
Read the full 46-page report here.