Frightening Flames

This was the bush fire that we wittnessed from our balcony last night. It is amaizing what an optical illusion it was as it appeared, as you can see in the pictures to be very close, and to have started in an orchard below and was moving swiftly down the valley.

With in 10 minutes it had spread vastly and I was very worried that if the wind changed it would be heading towards the village, So I had PP and important doc's on hand and was ready for getting the cats into the car for evacuation if needs be.

As the flames rose mightily into the night sky and the air was filled with the smell of smoke, I was frustrated as it seemed that the fire trucks were not getting near it........and I could not understand why, however as it began to die down it took on a triangular shape and then I realised that the fire was actually climbing a montain the other side of the valley. These places have difficult access in day light let alone night time. The fire had begun just after sunset, hence we knew it had not been started by a a glass bottle thrown in the bush. I stayed up until 02.30 am untill it finally died down.............

Click on the photo to enlarge.

This morning at 06.00 literally as the sun came up we heard the 2 fire fighter planes from Larnaca were out and we could see them circling around and around the valley, then one went far out turned left and came back towards us and down the side of the mountain and dropped foam across the hillside. The second one was still going around and then......... swooped down between the peaks and WOOOSH up the side of the mountain dropping his foam in the best piece of flying manoeuvre I have EVER seen. I honestly thought he was going to crash into the side he was so close.

It looks like snow but this is the foam

Sadly we didn’t get pictures of this, but rushed to get dressed and jumped in the car heading down into the valley to the scene in case the planes came in for another round. We came across some tired fire fighters who were still keeping a watchful eye on the smouldering bushes and it was quite clear by their reactions that yes.......the fire had started right next to the road so it is HIGHLY likely that some idiot threw his cigarette butt out of his car window. Thankfully there are very few, but very remote houses that are up there, and somehow they were spared..................
In the light of day it showed clearly what a fantastic job these firemen do,throwing themselves into danger at the expence of someone elses stupidity.

Hats off to them and the incredible fire fighting pilots.