Children in Lefkoşa set house on fire while playing with a lighter

In a residential area of Lefkoşa (North Nicosia) in Northern Cyprus, a fire broke out after children played with a lighter. The incident occurred during the day when several unsupervised children ignited a piece of fabric in the living room.

The flames quickly spread across the carpet and furniture, causing heavy smoke. Firefighters arrived promptly and managed to extinguish the blaze before it spread to other rooms. No injuries were reported, but the house sustained significant damage — carpets, furniture, and parts of the interior were burned.

Police and fire services are investigating the incident. Preliminary findings indicate the fire was caused by careless handling of fire. Parents were reminded to keep lighters and matches out of children’s reach and to educate them about the dangers of playing with fire.

The Civil Defense Department again urged residents to install smoke detectors and regularly check their functionality to reduce the risk of tragic outcomes in household fires.