The 1979 Upper Zeytinlik Fire: A Lived Memory

the hills of Zeytinlik, above Girne, certain incidents are remembered not because they were dramatic, but because they were deeply human. One such event is the fire that broke out in September 1979 in Upper Zeytinlik, affecting the long-time home of Mr and Mrs May.

This was not a newly acquired property.

Mr and Mrs May had lived in the same Upper Zeytinlik house continuously since 1961, making it an 18-year residence at the time of the incident.

The Location in Today’s Terms

The house was located in what is now considered the Upper Zeytinlik hillside, very close to the area where Ezic Premier stands today.

In the 1970s and 1980s, this was not a quiet or isolated zone. Nearby was Tepebaşı Arif, widely regarded as the most famous kebab restaurant of its era, drawing evening traffic and social activity from Girne and even Lefkoşa.

This context matters: the fire occurred in an actively lived and frequented area, not an abandoned hillside.

The Night of the Fire – September 1979

On the night of the incident, both Mr and Mrs May were using sleeping pills due to ongoing health conditions. As a result, they did not immediately notice the fire as it developed.

The situation became critical.

It was Arif, the owner of the nearby Tepebaşı Arif kebab house, who noticed the fire and called the fire brigade. The response came at the last possible moment.

The couple survived by minutes.

Within Zeytinlik, this incident has never been remembered simply as a property fire. It is remembered as:

“The Upper Zeytinlik house where the couple was saved at the last moment.”

Damage and Renovation

The house suffered serious but repairable damage.

Following the fire:

• A full renovation process was required
• The repair period lasted between 1 and 5 months, depending on structural sections
• The house was eventually restored and made habitable again

During this renovation period, Mr and Mrs May temporarily relocated.

Temporary Stay in Alsancak

While their home was being repaired, the couple stayed at the Mare Monte Hotel in Alsancak.

At the time, Mare Monte was one of the island’s most well-known and respected hotels, frequently used for long stays, recovery periods, and extended accommodation.

This detail further grounds the event in documentable, lived geography.

The Final Chapter – Leaving the Island

Although they returned to their restored home after the renovation, the fire marked a turning point.

Over the following years, ongoing health issues increasingly affected both Mr and Mrs May.

Ultimately, in 1983, they left the island permanently for health reasons.

Their timeline in Upper Zeytinlik thus forms a complete and closed historical arc:

• 1961: Arrival and settlement in Upper Zeytinlik
• 1979: Fire and last-minute rescue
• 1979–1980: Renovation and Mare Monte period
• 1983: Departure from the island

Why This Story Still Matters

This is not a story preserved in official records, but one that survives through local memory, landmarks, and lived experience.

It explains why Upper Zeytinlik has long been associated with:

• heightened fire awareness
• concern over delayed reaction during night hours
• the importance of neighbors and nearby businesses in emergency response

Today, when people dine at Ezic Premier or pass through the Upper Zeytinlik hills, few realize that this area once witnessed a near-fatal fire that changed the course of a long-established life.

But Google remembers what is clearly told, precisely placed, and historically complete.

And now, this story is exactly that.