The Syrian Ministry of Emergency announces a plan to combat harvest and summer fires.

With the start of the harvest season, the Ministry of Emergency and Disasters in Syria has launched an emergency response plan aimed at reducing losses in lives and properties, mitigating the environmental and economic impacts resulting from agricultural crop and forest fires, in order to protect food security.

This plan was developed in collaboration with the Syrian Civil Defense Organization, fire brigades, and forest protection centers, covering all areas based on the distribution of centers and cultivated areas.

The plan focuses on three main axes: raising readiness, speed of response, and enhancing community awareness.

Dr. Hussam Hallak, Assistant Minister of Emergency and Disasters, explained that specialized teams conducted a comprehensive study including geographic surveys and data collection to identify the nearest centers to cultivated areas, based on past years' experiences. These centers were evaluated, equipped, and provided with the necessary equipment and personnel to deal with fires.

Auxiliary centers and safe and fast access routes were identified, reinforcing communication channels and coordination with agriculture, water, and forest directorates.

Coordination rooms have been set up in multiple areas operating around the clock, with clear paths defined for firefighting teams to quickly reach water sources.

The plan includes activating 36 advanced response points, including 10 mobile points equipped with tanks, light equipment, and trained personnel, and 26 fully equipped fixed points to support surrounding areas.

Currently, the relevant authorities are preparing and operating these points with trained staff, especially to combat wheat, barley, fruit trees, and mountainous shrub fires.

On the other hand, Wissam Zeidan, Director of the Search and Rescue Program in the Civil Defense, emphasized the importance of community awareness. Informational posters have been produced and disseminated, and media campaigns have been launched to educate people about fire prevention and reporting methods.

He stressed that the plan represents a proactive response to summer risks, amidst climate changes and unsafe practices, adding that these efforts, despite their simplicity, form the basis for reducing losses and require additional support to enhance response capabilities and community cooperation.