X-Fire 2025
1st International Workshop on Extreme Wildfire Events
23–25 September 2025 – Nicosia, Cyprus
About the Workshop
The X-Fire Workshop aims to serve as a focused international forum for advancing knowledge on the unique challenges of extreme wildfire events through the exchange of scientific and operational insights. The Workshop is structured around the following key objectives:
- Enhance understanding of extreme wildfire events by integrating up-to-date knowledge from multiple scientific disciplines, including –but not limited to– physics, meteorology, fire ecology, fuel dynamics, numerical modeling, machine learning, and remote sensing.
- Identify research gaps and challenges in observing, modeling, predicting, and managing extreme wildfire events.
- Facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, operational experts, and policymakers to develop innovative methodologies, enhance predictive capabilities, improve decision-making, and identify lessons learned from past events to inform best practices in extreme wildfire events management.
By creating a focused scientific and operational exchange on extreme wildfire events, X-Fire aims to fill a critical gap, ensuring that the complexities of these events receive sustained attention and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Keynote Speakers
X-Fire 2025 will feature three keynote talks from leading experts:
Dr. Francesca Di Giuseppe / ECMWF
The promised revolution of ML to anticipate extreme fire behavior: Hype or Reality?
Read Francesca’s short bio
Francesca’s research focuses on understanding and predicting extreme fire behaviour, linking meteorological drivers, climate variability, and fire danger forecasting. She specializes in transforming complex datasets into actionable information across time scales, from reanalysis to medium- and long-range forecasts. She has led the development of models, datasets, and products integrating physical modelling and AI, supporting early warning systems, decision tools, and adaptation strategies. Her expertise is recognized through service contracts, research grants, invited talks, keynote lectures, and outreach activities. She co-lead the State of Wildfire Report and serves as editor for the Journal of the European Meteorological Society and Nature Scientific Data. She has authored ~100 publications on meteorology, forecasting, and fire applications.
Prof. Emeritus Domingos Xavier Viegas / ECMWF
oscillatory fire behaviour in wildfire propagation
Read Domingo’s short bio
Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and member of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon. Active in forest fire research since 1985, he founded the Forest Fire Research Centre and Laboratory, advancing knowledge on fire spread and firefighter training. Since 1990, he has led or joined over 80 projects, coordinated international meetings, and authored 100+ peer-reviewed papers, guiding more than 20 PhD students. His work includes key contributions on eruptive and oscillatory fire behaviour. Governments in Portugal and abroad have relied on his expertise in major fire investigations. He served on IJWF and IAWF boards, receiving the IAWF Wildland Fire Safety Award (2017) and Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science (2022).
TBC
TBC
Local Organizing Committee
Dr. Georgios Boustras, Founder and Director of CERIDES – Excellence in Innovation and Technology, European University of Cyprus
Dr. Cleo Varianou-Mikellidou, Operational Manager at CERIDES – Excellence in Innovation and Technology, European University of Cyprus
Mr. Pierantonios Papazoglou, Research and Strategy Manager at CERIDES – Excellence in Innovation and Technology, European University of Cyprus
Mrs. Klelia Vasiliou, Research Assistant at CERIDES – Excellence in Innovation and Technology, European University of Cyprus
Programme
We are currently finalizing the full agenda of X-Fire 2025 and the detailed programme will be published in the coming days. Below is the tentative structure, which will be updated as sessions are confirmed.
Practical Information
Venue & Dates
🇨🇾 European University of Cyprus, Room 010 (East Block Ground Floor)
📍 6 Diogenous Str., 2404, Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus
🌐 https://euc.ac.cy/en/contact-us/
🗓️ 23–25 September 2025
Accommodation
The following Hotels are suggestions and any contacts and bookings must be made and paid directly by you.
The main hotel suggestions available at walking distance (1-2 km) from the University are:
- Hypnos Boutique Hotel (good quality boutique hotel): https://goo.gl/maps/cNYM2BRr1yce3Hox7 and http://www.booking.com/Share-Xj2d5M
- Asty Hotel (basic, cheaper, laid back vibes): https://goo.gl/maps/9Z2ocxfM3zauWRqS7 and http://www.booking.com/Share-fD94x3
- Hilton: (more luxurious option): https://g.page/HiltonParkNicosia?share and http://www.booking.com/Share-k6SqMW
Airport and Transfers
The legal points of entry to the Republic of Cyprus are the Larnaca International Airport (LCA) and the Pafos International Airport (PFO).
Please note that as the venue of the Meeting is in Nicosia, it is recommended that participants arrive at Larnaca International Airport and take a taxi or a bus to their hotels. More information can be found at the official website of the airports: https://www.hermesairports.com
⚠️ Please do not use the airport option in the territories not under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, as this is not recognized by the Republic of Cyprus and you will probably face problems during “entry” at the Nicosia checkpoints.
Transfers
Kapnos Airport Shuttle Buses
Shuttle bus services run to/from Larnaca Airport as well as to/from Paphos Airport to Nicosia and other cities. For more information on timetables and destinations: https://kapnosairportshuttle.com/routes
Tickets from Larnaca Airport to Nicosia Terminal Station of Kapnos Shuttle cost € 9.00 one way. Once at Kapnos Shuttle Terminal in Nicosia, you will need to use different transportation to your hotel (e.g. taxi or bus).
Taxis
Prices for depend on destination. The cost from Larnaca Airport to Nicosia, should be expected at € 50.00 during daytime and at € 60.00 during nighttime. Their preference is to be paid in cash. Please proceed on your own to book your taxi, if this is your preferred option.
About Nicosia
Situated in the middle of the island, Nicosia is a busy modern commercial and business centre. The city centre is its old quarter, a jumble of narrow streets with sandstone buildings with overhanging balconies and inner courtyards. The old quarter is surrounded by a sandstone fortress wall with a moat and heart-shaped bastions. The Cyprus Museum houses the best collection of archaeological artefacts on the island, including a first century AD Roman statuette of Aphrodite of Soli and the original mosaic of Leda and the Swan, while the Leventis Museum depicts the history of the town. St John’s Cathedral, with its frescoes is a marvellous museum of byzantine icons. In the evening you may stroll in the old city, feel the cool breeze coming from Troodos Mountain and even catch a concert in the moat or an exhibition at the Famagusta Gate, one of the three original entrances into the old city, which has now been restored and is used as a cultural centre.
💁♀️ More about Nicosia and Cyprus at the official website of the Cyprus Tourism Organization: https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/
General Information About Cyprus
🗣️ Languages
Greek and Turkish are the official languages of the Republic of Cyprus. Greek is the main language in the Government-controlled areas of the Republic. English is very widely spoken.
☀️ Climate & Weather
The island’s climate is an intense Mediterranean climate, with long dry summers from mid–May to mid–October, and mild winters from December to February, which are separated by short autumn and spring seasons.
More at: https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/practical-info/climate-weather.
💶 Currency, ATMs & Credit Cards
The currency of Cyprus is the € – Euro. All banks in Cyprus offer foreign currency exchange services and quote exchange rates of Euro against all major foreign currencies. Foreign currency can also be exchanged at (some) hotels.
All major banks in Cyprus have automatic teller machines (ATMs) in most towns and in the majority of the large villages. All major credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.
🔌 Electric Supply
The electricity supply in Cyprus is 230 volts, a.c. 50 Hz. Sockets are usually 13 amp, with 3-point plugs, square pin. Many hotels provide adaptors upon request from the reception, however it is suggested to come prepared.
⏰ Opening Hours
Shops normally open around 07:00 and close around 21:00 Monday to Saturday, with some observing a half-day closure on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons. Shops in tourist areas, large shopping centres and department stores may stay open on weekends and public holidays as well.
Banksare open on workdays (Monday to Friday) usually between 08.30 and 13.30. Banks are closed on weekends and public holidays. Some banks in central tourist areas are open in the afternoon specifically to provide services to tourists.
Restaurants and cafes have varying opening hours, but lunch is most often served between 12:00 and 15:00. Dinner is served from 19:00 until late in the evening.
More information at: https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/practical-info/time-working-hour-holidays
🚗 Driving
Driving is on the left-hand side of the road. All the international road traffic signs are in use and placed on the left-hand side of roads and highways. On roundabouts, priority is given to the right side.
🤕 Health, Safety & Emergencies
Call 112, the EU-wide emergency number for Police, Fire Service and Ambulance. Cyprus has an excellent reputation for being a safe and friendly place. Nicosia is also known to be a very friendly and safe city. Of course, discretion and care are always suggested especially during late hours and in particular in less-crowded downtown areas.
For Emergencies, Hospitals/ Pharmacies: https://www.visitcyprus.com/index.php/en/practical-info/health-safety.
Dial Code for Cyprus: +357
Telephone Directory Assistance: 11892, 11822, 11800, 11833, 11811.
Board of Reviewers
We are sincerely grateful to our colleagues who volunteered to serve as reviewers, ensuring a high-quality and impactful workshop!
🙏 Thank you!
🇫🇷 Julien Ruffault, Jean-Baptiste Filippi, 🇪🇸 Ana Cortés, Victor Resco de Dios, Andrea Duane, Diogo Miguel Pinto, Fermín Alcasena, 🇵🇹 Paulo Fernandes, Luis Mario Ribeiro, Bruno Aparicio, 🇺🇸 Craig Clements, 🇭🇷 Damir Krstinic, 🇭🇺 Ágoston Restás, 🇹🇷 Kadir Alperen Coskuner, 🇧🇬 Nina Dobrinkova, 🇷🇴 Mihai Daniel Nita, 🇬🇷 Savvas Gkantomas
