Weeds and litter are an ‘invitation to fire’

THE failure to properly clear and dispose of weeds from around homes and the accumulation of litter is an “invitation to fire”, Forestry Department head Cemil Karzaoğlu has said.

Referring to two recent fires in Lapta and Ağırdağ, Mr Karzaoğlu said that the main reason for the fire in Lapta was that “weeds as tall as people around villas with pools in the region were not cleared by the landowners and construction companies”.

“A spark from a gas canister used to make tea, coffee and food for the workers there, or from an angle grinder, welding machine or lighter, can cause a fire.

“A short circuit caused by electricity going back and forth may have caused this fire by causing a spark. According to my findings on that day, the water cable was burned.”

Mr Karzaoğlu noted that some people are “incapable of even cleaning the weeds around their homes” and that “even when they do, they throw these weeds across the street and invite a fire again”.

Expressing that “no-one has the right to throw rubbish into the environment”, Mr Karzaoğlu stated that the authorities should “fulfil their duties in this regard and do whatever is necessary”. Mr Karzaoğlu pointed out that the fire in Lapta was the “dead state” of the huge fire that occurred in the region in 1995.

The fire was extinguished without the need for a fire helicopter, he added.

“If everyone keeps their own house clean, our neighbourhood will be clean. When our neighbourhood is clean, our city will be clean. When our city is clean, our country will be clean.

“The Forestry Department teams will of course respond to a fire but people need to protect their environment first.”

Mr Karzaoğlu also drew attention to the fact that “most people throw their rubbish in forest areas” and “wondered about their mental state when doing so”.

He said precautions have been taken at Lapta’s waste collection area under the supervision of the Lapta Municipality, which removes rubbish to avoid “excessive accumulation”.

Meanwhile Lefkoşa Mayor Mehmet Harmancı said that workers have continued to clear rubbish and weeds from empty plots of land and roadsides as part of the municipality’s annual clean-up operation.

“Soon we will have completed the Göçmenköy, Ortaköy, Dumlupınar and Küçük Kaymaklı areas,” he said.