A wildfire broke out in Ain el Safssaf, Akkar, July 2, 2023. (Courtesy of Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — A wildfire broke out on Sunday in Ain al-Safssaf, Akkar, northern Lebanon, burning a number of trees, a member of the environmental group Akkar Trail Association told L'Orient Today.
Members of the rapid intervention team of the Akkar Trail managed to extinguish the fire and prevent its expansion. A Civil Defense team is working to cool down the site to prevent any reignition.
The fire started in al-Lazab al-Dahriya forest on the outskirts of the town of Meshmesh, at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level.
Taha al-Mustafa, the head of the Agriculture Department in Akkar Governorate, told L'Orient Today that the fire was started when someone fired incendiary bullets. Mustafa urged Meshmesh municipality and army intelligence to "stop people who shoot indiscriminately in this area."
Mustafa also called on the forest guards in the area to open an investigation into the incident.
On June 24, a massive wildfire broke out in the Sinn region of Akkar, northern Lebanon, burning at least 90 hectares of forest, ravaging centuries-old trees, and affecting homes.
In a press release, Akkar Trail Association said last week's wildfire was just the beginning. Lebanon is still at the start of its wildfire season, and the country has limited capacity and resources to fight such flames.
Additional reporting by Michel Hallak.