Major Forest Fire Burns Fruit Orchards in Cyprus

Largest ever fire in Cyprus consumes about 15 km² of forest 

Strong winds and temperatures exceeding 40°C continue to fuel a major forest fire, burning on multiple fronts, which has destroyed about 15 km² of forest and fruit orchards in the country.

Residents in several communities have been evacuated, as dozens of planes, helicopters and ground vehicles and more than 300 personnel attempt to bring the fires under control.

The fire is said to be the largest in Cyprus after the Saittas fire in June 2007, which consumed about 10 km², causing millions worth of damage in the region, said a report.

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South Australia on Fire

Catastrophic bushfire burning in South Australia kills three, thousands of animals

Thousands of animals burned alive by monster fire that has also killed up to three people, said a report.

Locals on social media estimate that as many as 9,000 pigs may have been burned alive in the Wasleys Piggery, one of the state’s largest pig farms.

• The massive fire has a 40km front and is burning uncontrollably.
• It’s burning north of Adelaide, and has a 211km perimeter, said the local fire chief, adding that there was a continuous fire line from Adelaide to Port Pirie.
• “We also know that there are many homes, sheds, crops and livestock losses due to the active fire front, I can’t give you exact figures at this point,” said South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill.
• Properties in Tarlee, Freeling and Kapunda have been affected by the blaze, which had burned more than 85,700 hectares on Wednesday.
• About 1,000 people are working to fight the blaze including 70 appliances on the ground along with 340 volunteer firefighters.
• The blaze has destroyed homes and buildings and was headed toward the wine-growing region of the Barossa Valley, said a report.

A Tsunami of Fire

The front of a massive bushfire nears a house at Mallala, north of Adelaide, November 25 2015. Credit: ABS News (Aus)

Hay bales catch alight during the catastrophic Mallala fire in South Australia. Image credit: ABC News/Tony Hill

A big fire burns in crops in the Mallala area, north of Adelaide, November 25 2015. Image credit: Supplied by Walco Seed Cleaning/ via ABC News (Aus)

More images posted at Bushfire burns north of Adelaide

More information at www.cfs.sa.gov.au

Massive Fire Destroys Kiev Oil Depot

Deadly inferno destroys two dozen mega fuel tanks, threatens ammo dump near Kiev, Ukraine

The catastrophic fire at the BRSM-Nafta facility near the Ukrainian capital ignited Monday night, claiming several lives and burning uncontrollably, as of posting.

BRSM-Nafta Ltd. is a Kiev-based company that supplies gasoline and diesel in Ukraine. The oil depot is located in the village of Kryachky, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) southwest of Kiev.

“There is a serious threat of the fire burning at an oil depot in the Vasylkivsky district of the Kyiv region spreading to an Armed Forces unit’s ammunition warehouse located nearby,” said the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council.

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