Recent data from official sources has revealed alarming statistics regarding the wildfires that erupted over the past three days, particularly affecting regions in the Taroudant, Azilal, and Beni Mellal provinces. These wildfires have collectively ravaged approximately 598 hectares of forested land. The information highlights the valiant efforts of various agencies, including the National Office of Water and Forests, local authorities, the Royal Gendarmerie, and the Royal Armed Forces, alongside the involvement of the local community, which have led to a significant degree of containment of these fires.
According to Samir Tabrakant, head of the Forest Fire Department at the National Office of Water and Forests, the most affected area, which caught fire since Wednesday in the municipality of Ounain in the Taroudant province, saw damage extend to 403 hectares of forest. This figure includes 14 hectares in the Ijoukak municipality of Al Haouz, where the flames had spread before being contained as of Thursday morning. Tabrakant noted that efforts to control the Ounain fire have reached an impressive 80% containment, with damage assessed at 403 hectares, indicating that the fire is no longer advancing into new areas. The remaining flames are confined to areas that have already been burned or are within the outlined fire zone.
Regarding the fire in the Benatar forest in the municipality of Kseibat, located in Beni Mellal province, Tabrakant confirmed that it has been fully controlled as of noon today, following the blaze that started at 8 a.m. on Thursday and affected 170 hectares of forest, in addition to an estimated 30 to 40 hectares of agricultural land. Firefighting teams are still stationed in the region to prevent any resurgence of the fire.
On the other hand, the fire that impacted the Infrak forest in the municipality of Afourar in the Azilal province, which erupted at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, has burned approximately 25 hectares, with containment efforts reported at 70% as per the latest updates.
Firefighting Efforts Involve Over 1,000 Personnel
A total of 1,182 personnel have been mobilized to combat the three separate wildfires, comprising various stakeholders as mentioned earlier. This includes 567 members dedicated to the fire suppression efforts in Ounain, 365 in Kseibat, and 250 involved in the Afourar wildfire response. Additionally, eight Canadair aircraft have participated in the firefighting operations, with four deployed for Beni Mellal, two for Taroudant, and two for Azilal.
Returning to the Ounain fire, which extended to the borders with Al Haouz province, Mohamed Imnir, the regional director of the National Office of Water and Forests, stated that teams involved in combating the fire concluded their operations as of Saturday morning. These teams successfully contained the fire that specifically affected the Wijdan area (in the Koundafa forest) in the Ijoukak municipality, which spread from Ounain, around 9 a.m. last Thursday. This blaze had destroyed 14 hectares primarily composed of green oak, red juniper, and secondary vegetation, as confirmed by Imnir. He also refuted claims that the fire had impacted the municipality of Thrat N Yaqub in Al Haouz province, contrary to what some sources suggested, affirming that the successful containment of the flames is due to the collaborative efforts of all involved parties, including local authorities, water and forest personnel, the armed forces, and the local community, totaling over 270 individuals.
As reported by hespress.com.
