Thick smoke billows from a fire in the Chouf region, Oct. 27, 2024. (Credit: Photo provided by the Lebanese Civil Defense)
On Sunday, Lebanon saw a surge of fires across the country, from north to south, exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds. October marks the height of Lebanon’s fire season, with major blazes frequently reported each year.
In the morning, a fire that had been brought under control on Saturday in a forest near Bireh, Chouf, reignited overnight, a Civil Defense spokesperson told L’Orient Today. The flames burned through new green areas but did not threaten residential zones. Civil Defense teams are working to contain the fire, which is spreading rapidly due to high winds. The cause of the fire remains unknown, though it re-emerged in a different area from the previous day, the spokesperson added.
A fire also broke out in the Nabeh al-Safa area, less than 10 kilometers from Bireh, mobilizing Beirut’s fire department at the direction of city officials. The blaze intensified in the evening, hampered by difficult terrain and wind, according to the official National News Agency (NNA)
In the north, a fire in Btermaz, Denniyeh, that had been burning for six days was finally brought under control. Nearly 200,000 square meters of woodland, including wild pine, were destroyed. Cooling efforts continued into the evening to prevent further fire outbreaks.
Numerous additional fires were reported in grasslands in several regions, including Ehmej, in the Jbeil district, and Deir al-Qamar, in the Chouf district.
On Saturday, several other fires were also reported, including one in North Lebanon, another along the Metn-Kesrouan border, and three more in the Chouf and Aley districts. In a statement, Civil Defense reported “more than 20 grass and tree fires,” urging the public to refrain from starting fires to prevent further ecological damage.
