Algerian civil protection battles forest fires

Algerian Civil Protection remains on high alert as Firefighters are currently working to contain a high number of forest and agricultural fires across the country. According to the Algerian opposition journal, Le Matin d’Algerie, as of midday July 14, authorities reported 148 fire outbreaks within the last 24 hours.

While the primary battle involves forest and scrubland areas, a new update highlights significant damage to agricultural harvests and orchards. Of the 148 total outbreaks, 15 specifically involve grain harvests, fruit trees, and palm groves. Emergency teams have already successfully extinguished 133 of these fires.

As of 1:00 PM, responders had put out nine fires in provinces including Batna, Biskra, Tiaret, Djelfa, Sétif, Médéa, and Relizane. However, Le Matin d’Algerie reports that five fires remain fully active, requiring heavy ground support. In Tiaret, two fires are active in the communes of Dahmouni and Mechraâ Sfa. In Médéa, crews are fighting a fire in the commune of El Azizia. Firefighters are also deployed in Bordj Bou Arréridj at Medjana and in Aïn Defla at Oued Chorfa to contain similar blazes. In Constantine, crews are monitoring the last hot spots in Beni Hameidane with seven fire trucks and a liaison vehicle on site.

According to the report by Le Matin D’Algerie, the Civil Protection strategy relies on heavy ground mobilisation. This was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior, Local Government, and Transportation: “Significant resources have been mobilised, including the Civil Protection mobile unit, fire engines, specialist teams, an air fleet comprising water-bombing aircraft and helicopters, as well as the various security forces, the People’s National Army (ANP), the General Directorate of Forests (DGF) and local authorities, to ensure a rapid response and limit the spread of the flames”.

In addition to the active crop fires, teams are maintaining surveillance over sensitive forest regions. They are keeping a close watch on massifs in Sétif, Béjaïa, and Saïda. Aerial support and ground reinforcements remain engaged to ensure that these areas stay secure.

Le Matin d’Algérie, Maghrebi.org.