According to the investigations of the Ierapetra Fire Service, the fire that broke out last night, most probably started high up towards Thripti, at the church of Profitis Ilias, above the village of Kato Horio, Ierapetra.
The fire raised serious concerns for the residents in surrounding villages, as it was clearly visible both from the side of Thriti, but also from, Paplinos and Koutsounari, Ag. Giannis.
The Chief of the Fire Service in Ierapetra, Mr. Panagiotis Karabelas, spoke to HXO 99,8fm radio and explained that the fire appeared to have started very high up but burnt itself out, most likely when reaching a rocky area. The surprising element was that although the fire covered a large area, it was not possible to establish the source. Mr. Karabelas believes that this was due to the weather conditions at the time, with a combination of high humidity and the reflection that took place.
The fire chief pointed out that we must take great care, even now when the undergrowth is green and fresh, because that does not guarantee a fire will not spread.