Authorities in Bejaia province of Algeria reported that they successfully extinguished nearly 20 forest fires in various regions of the province within the past 24 hours.
The Civil Protection Directorate of Bejaia stated that approximately 20 vegetation fires across multiple areas of the province were controlled and put out over the last day.
As of the time of the statement, only one fire in ‘Aish al-Baz in the municipality of Bejaia remained active, while another at a place known as ‘Mahwi’ in the Tichi municipality was recently extinguished and is currently under surveillance.
The statement also highlighted the mobilization of various resources and responders to prevent the spread and further escalation of these fires.
In a proactive measure, response teams from the neighboring provinces of Bouira, Setif, and Bordj Bou Arreridj were dispatched yesterday to assist in combating the flames.
Nour El-Din Fedi, Director of Civil Protection for Bejaia province, had previously announced the outbreak of a fire in a forest area of ‘Aish al-Baz in Boulimate.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures to protect the province’s vital green cover.
Emergency response teams are currently engaged in efforts to combat a series of wildfires that have erupted in Algeria’s northeastern provinces of Bejaia and Tizi-Ouzou. These wildfires have intensified and now pose a significant threat to nearby communities.
This region faced severe devastation just last July when massive forest fires claimed the lives of approximately thirty individuals. Presently, there have been no reported casualties or property damage resulting from these fires. Nevertheless, responders are cautioning that the fires are spreading rapidly due to strong winds.
Authorities are also alerting the public to the likelihood of continued high temperatures in the affected areas throughout the weekend. The combination of hot and dry conditions is exacerbating the growth of these wildfires.
This summer, Northern Algeria witnessed an unprecedented heatwave, with temperatures soaring to as high as 48 degrees Celsius (118.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
