A Lebanese army helicopter delivers water to help fight a fire in Akkar. (Courtesy of: Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — A wildfire that broke out Friday swept through 15 hectares of forest in rural Akkar governorate before the Civil Defense and local firefighting teams successfully contained it, volunteer firefighters from the local Akkar Trail team told L'Orient Today on Saturday.
The blaze had spread through rugged terrain in the Kherbeh field in Wadi Jhannam to the surrounding hills, near the villages of Qamamayn, Meshmesh and Harrar.
Maps by the University of Balamand's wildfires program show the risk of fires in Lebanon for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Firefighting teams working at the site reported on Saturday morning that small fires were still active. The Akkar Trail group said they requested caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin to contact the army command and the Higher Defense Council when the fire broke out, to bring in the help of two army helicopters Saturday.
Hot weather is sweeping Lebanon this weekend, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 40 degrees.
In a statement issued by the Environment Ministry Saturday, it stressed that "Lebanon is facing intense heat and drought that could worsen in the coming days, increasing the danger of forest fires." The text also issued a series of recommendations and instructions, including a ban on lighting fires in the forest or using fireworks.
Another major fire broke out on Friday in Bakhaoun, in the Minyeh-Dinnieh region.
The fire season started early this summer, due to drought and high temperatures. Recent weeks have seen near-daily wildfires in Lebanon, particularly in the densely forested Akkar governorate, where public funding and equipment shortages for the Civil Defense mean some volunteer groups are also stepping in to help.
Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak
