Fires, toxic smoke, and fire trucks. (Photo montage by Jaimee Haddad)
The fire index was higher than the seasonal normal on Tuesday and Wednesday, due to strong khamsin winds blowing over Lebanon. These dry, hot and dusty winds are expected to reach 80 kilometers/hour according to Jocelyne Abu Fares, head of the forecasting division at Lebanon's Meteorological Department. "The vegetation is already somewhat dry, and any factor facilitating the outbreak of a fire can be decisive," she told L'Orient-Le Jour.
According to Lebanon's daily weather report, temperatures range between 15 and 30 degrees on Tuesday and are expected to rise to 22 and 35 degrees on Wednesday, representing a rapid increase from one day to the next. Humidity levels will also be low during these two days, which will see strong winds accompanied by dust.
Alarming weather conditions?
These conditions contribute to raising the fire index, without it being particularly alarming, said Georges Mitri, director of the "Land and Natural Resources" program at the Environment Institute of the University of Balamand. "We are still close to the winter season and the most recent rains, the vegetation retains a good amount of humidity, which curbs potential fire progression," he stated
However, precautions are necessary. "The weather conditions can favor the outbreak of a fire if the factors are there, but at this season an early intervention is enough to limit the damage of the fire and contain it," he said. The expert noted, however, "the absence of human and financial resources that continue to hinder our ability to fight fires in Lebanon."
For Abu Fares, "one needs to be very vigilant during these two days, and not engage in actions that could endanger the environment, such as discarding cigarette butts on dry grass along roadways, for example."
The Civil Defense already issued a warning on Monday about the fire risks and called for vigilance, especially "the use of fireworks and lighting fires in trash containers, due to the risk of fires that are hard to manage under the predicted weather conditions." The organization added that "any act leading to the start of fires, whether intentional or due to negligence, will be considered a serious infraction and an environmental crime, subject to judicial proceedings," in coordination with the competent security and judicial authorities.
For any information or to call firefighters in case of a fire outbreak, the Civil Defense reminds that you should dial 125, and send photos and precise information about the location of the incident via WhatsApp at 70/192693, to allow for rapid and targeted intervention by rescue teams.
Unpredictable weather
While both experts agreed that this season is not the most dangerous for fires, Mitri warned that the problematic season begins in July, "when the vegetation is already suffering from drought, and lasts until at least the end of summer." According to Abu Fares, this fire season can extend into autumn.
"This is when devastating and hard-to-control fires occur," said Mitri. "The humidity level will increase, which will lower the fire index."
"There might be rain, but not abundant," stated Abu Fares.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.