The fire was brought under control on Friday in Ain al-Dahab, Akkar. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — The Akkar Trail environmental organization reported Friday that its volunteers had successfully brought under control a fire that had decimated 1.5 hectares of woodland after breaking out on Thursday in Ain al-Dahab, a locality in Akkar, the state-run National News Agency reported Friday.
The fire was extinguished with the help of the Civil Defense, several residents and a tanker owner, the organization stated. The origin of the fire was not mentioned.
"A team of volunteers from the Jurd al-Qaytaa Union of Municipalities had managed to extinguish the flames yesterday evening [Thursday], but the fire flared up again during the night due to strong winds. The fire ravaged 1.5 hectares of pine, oak and arbutus trees. The damage could have been much greater had it not been for the efforts of the volunteers who protected the forests, homes and farmland in the area,” the statement read.
"We urge farmers in particular not to light fires in forests or next to green spaces, and ask them to notify us as soon as possible in the event of a fire," the statement continued.
Fire season started early this summer, due to drought and high temperatures. The densely forested northern region of Akkar is one of the areas most affected by forest fires. It is also one of the most disadvantaged regions in Lebanon, which often complicates response operations by local volunteers.