For the Fourth Consecutive Day... Fires Consume More Forests in the Countryside of Latakia and Approach Kassab

For the fourth consecutive day, strenuous efforts continue by the Civil Defense teams and firefighting brigades in the northern countryside of Latakia to extinguish massive fires that broke out in mountain forests, threatening further environmental losses and the risk of spreading to the Farlik Reserve and surrounding residential areas, including the town of Kassab.

The Director of Civil Defense in Latakia, Abdul Kafi Kayal, confirmed that the extinguishing operations are facing severe challenges, most notably the rugged terrain and dense vegetation cover, in addition to the presence of war remnants hindering the teams from reaching the fire spots.

He also pointed out that sudden changes in wind direction worsen the situation, making it difficult to control the fire.

Kayal added that firefighting teams are currently implementing operational plans to penetrate the fire lines and cut off its spread, aiming to protect forests that have not been reached by the flames, indicating that the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management has intensified coordination among the relevant authorities to secure the necessary support, including water tankers, heavy equipment, and modern firefighting means.

On the other hand, Wissam Zaidan, the coordinator of the Search and Rescue and Firefighting Program, stated that one of the biggest challenges facing the teams is the presence of unexploded ordnance and minefields scattered in wide areas of the forests, in addition to the absence of fire lines that facilitate access to the burning areas with high tree density.

Zaidan explained that the increasing wind speed exacerbates the danger of the situation, but the firefighting teams continue to work around the clock, and additional support teams have been called in from various Syrian provinces to assist in containing the fires as quickly as possible.

In a related context, the Early Warning Office for Meteorological Factors in the Civil Defense issued a warning about the danger of smoke rising from the fires, which have begun to spread again today towards the northern section of the coastal mountains and the Ghab Plain, and may extend to other areas such as Masyaf in the western countryside of Hama, due to the active northwesterly winds.

The office urged citizens, especially children, the elderly, and respiratory patients, to take necessary precautions by wearing masks, closing windows and doors, and not leaving homes in the affected areas, emphasizing the need to head to the nearest health center when experiencing shortness of breath or nausea.

In an urgent appeal, the Syrian Civil Defense urged all citizens to exercise utmost caution in forested areas, to refrain from igniting any kind of fire, whether for recreational or cooking purposes, warning against throwing cigarette butts or using spark-emitting tools, as they play a significant role in igniting fires.

The Civil Defense also called on residents to immediately report any deliberate or unintended attempts to ignite fires and to cooperate with the relevant security authorities to take legal action against those responsible.