Civil Defense Teams Open Fire Lines in Lattakia Forests to Mitigate Fire Risks
The Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management, Raed Saleh, announced that the Syrian Civil Defense teams are carrying out the opening of fire lines within the forests in the northern countryside of Lattakia, as part of the ministry's plan to prevent forest fires. Saleh emphasized that "early intervention and proactive action are urgent necessities to reduce fire risks, accelerate response, and protect forest resources."
The minister published details of the operations in a post on the "X" platform, indicating that the teams have opened fire lines stretching 73 kilometers in the areas of Zahia, Atira, Kasab, and Faranlaq, and are currently continuing their work in the Al-Rabi'a area.
He explained that "fire lines are a crucial preventive measure within the forests, as they limit the spread of flames when fires break out and facilitate the access of firefighting teams, which reduces environmental and economic losses and protects nearby population centers and vital facilities."
This comes after the large fires that broke out between the third and fifteenth of last month in the northern countryside of Lattakia, which destroyed more than 16,000 hectares of forests, including 2,200 hectares of agricultural land, and affected 45 villages.
Firefighting and civil defense teams faced significant challenges in their extinguishing operations due to the presence of mines and war remnants, in addition to strong, changing winds and rugged terrain, as well as the absence of firebreak lines due to long-term neglect of the forests.
Teams from several countries, including Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Qatar, contributed to the firefighting operations, which helped in controlling the flames.
