In response to a wildfire that ignited on Thursday, 10 August, within the Rmeilat forest on the outskirts of Tangier, firefighters, and emergency teams are actively working to combat the blaze. The fire, which originated in the forest, progressed towards residential areas in the northwest of Tangier on Friday, 11 August.
For fire suppression, Canadair CL-415 aircraft are being deployed. In addition to these resources, firefighting personnel, auxiliary forces, and authority agents have been mobilised to the scene. Volunteers are also offering their assistance to support the deployed experts.
As of now, the exact cause of the fire outbreak remains unknown. However, reports indicate an unusual surge of fires during the current summer season due to an unprecedented surge in temperature.
Saoud Abdel Malik, a member of the Observatory for the Protection of the Environment, remarked, “The fire originated in the Rmilat forest, spanning 300 hectares, and has affected an area of 20 to 25 hectares since it started three days ago. Swift intervention played a crucial role in preventing a more severe outcome.”
This year’s fire presents a distinct challenge as it is located on the mountainside facing the sea. The interaction of sea winds with mountain winds has created a circular pattern, intensifying the fire’s strength. This scenario differs from previous years when the fire was farther from the sea, according to Malik.
Morocco’s Center for Water and Forestry (ANEF) has designated a red-level extreme risk for forest fires across several Moroccan provinces. Additionally, high (orange level) and medium (yellow level) risks have been identified for other regions.
In response to the heightened fire risk, the North African kingdom has recently allocated $22 million towards forest fire prevention and control measures.