Algeria extinguishes all wildfires after 20-day battle

For the first time since the wave of wildfires began on July 8th, 2026, Algeria’s civil protection authorities announced that every fire across the country has been fully extinguished. According to a report by government-friendly TSA Algerie, the announcement on July 28, marks the end of a 20-day battle against the flames.

According to the Civil Protection agency, continuous field operations successfully put out 1,968 total fire outbreaks since the crisis started. These figures include 667 forest, brush, and low-vegetation fires. They also include 1,301 incidents affecting agricultural land, fruit trees, and palm groves. The rapid spread of the fire was facilitated by an intense heatwave that affected multiple regions. This resulted in a total of six deaths, as well as multiple injuries, and extensive material damage.

Despite extinguishing the active fronts, operational units, mobile columns, regional support detachments, and aerial assets remain on permanent high alert to respond immediately to any new outbreaks.

Meanwhile, security services investigating the origins of the disaster have arrested 11 suspected arsonists, according to the TSA Algerie report. These individuals have been placed under formal arrest warrants pending trial. The deployment of massive human and material resources helped stem the crisis. This effort was underlined by the Ministry of the Interior, Local Government, and Transportation, which stated that: 

“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”. 

Despite this large-scale mobilisation, the environmental and economic fallout across affected provinces in Algeria (wilayas) remains significant.

As authorities transition from active firefighting to continuous monitoring, the focus shifts toward prevention and accountability. 

Maghrebi.org, TSA Algérie.