ATF International Response Team Completes Cyprus Fire Investigation
WASHINGTON – At the request of the government of Cyprus and the U.S. Department of State, ATF’s International Response Team (IRT) deployed to Limassol, Cyprus, to investigate wildland fires that burned more than 45 square miles.
After conducting a systematic and thorough investigation, the IRT determined the fire was caused by improperly discarded smoking materials and classified the fire cause as accidental. Some of the techniques used throughout the investigation included witness interviews, scene processing, interpreting fire patterns analyzing weather and electrical data.
The fires started on July 23, and burned for several days, causing loss of life and significant damage to infrastructure. This wildfire is one of the most destructive blazes in recent Cyprus history, burning hundreds of homes and natural grasslands.
"The ATF International Response Team is committed to supporting our international partners with world-class expertise in fire and explosives investigations,” said Brice McCracken, ATF Special Agent in Charge of the National Center for Explosives Training and Research. “Our deployment to Cyprus reflects our ongoing mission to assist in critical incidents worldwide, ensuring thorough, science-based investigations that help bring clarity in the aftermath of devastating fires.”
The IRT is part of ATF’s National Response Team program and can be deployed worldwide to investigate fires and explosions at the request of the U.S. Department of State. The team is comprised of subject matter experts in these types of cases, and they utilize state-of-the-art technology to aid their investigation.
The team of ATF subject matter experts deployed to Cyprus consisted of Special Agents, Special Agent Certified Fire Investigators, Special Agent Certified Explosives Specialists, Electrical Engineers, Intelligence Research Specialists, Digital Forensic Specialists, and a Medic.
This is the 1st IRT Activation of FY25, and the 44th since the inception of the program in 1978.
ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction for investigating fires and crimes of arson. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.
