A firefighter from the Lebanese Civil Defense trying to put out a fire, May 17, 2025. (Credit: Civil Defense.)
Multiple fires broke out on Saturday in several Lebanese regions, fueled by a heat wave. In South Lebanon, our correspondent reports several outbreaks, notably in the regions of Majdelzoun, Azzieh, Tayr Harfa, and in the area of Alma al-Shaab (Sour district.)
A blaze in the region of Zrarieh, also in Sour, has been ongoing for several hours. These natural fires are adding to a list of Israeli strikes and a constant overflight by the aviation of the Hebrew state. Another major fire broke out in a forest in the village of Deir Dourit, in Chouf (Mount Lebanon), where flames dangerously approached houses, according to the National News Agency (NNA). Civil Defense intervention contained the fire, which had previously destroyed agricultural areas.
Another fire broke out near the headquarters of the Sunni Sharia court in Beirut, in the Tarik el-Jdideh neighborhood, according to the NNA. Firefighters worked to extinguish it. A significant fire also broke out in forested areas on the outskirts of the locality of Rahbeh, in the Jouma-Akkar region, in North Lebanon. Civil Defense teams supported by the Lebanese army intervened to try to control the fire before it spread, as temperatures exceeded 35 degrees at noon in the region. A car caught fire on the road to Bhamdoun, in the caza of Aley, our correspondent reports. This incident contributed to increased traffic on this road leading to Bekaa, on the eve of municipal elections in this region.
72 Civil Defense missions
Civil Defense published a statement in the evening specifying that its teams carried out a total of 72 fire-fighting missions during this hot and windy day, ideal conditions for fueling the flames. Among these missions were 63 fires in dry grasslands and woods, two houses, two stores, two cars, two generators, one fire in a residential building, and another in several tents.
The fires broke out in regions as diverse as Kfarmatta, Baadarane, Bhamdoun, Baissour, Deir Dourit, Aramoun, Baakline, Dahr el-Wahch, Mansourieh, Beirut, Jbeil, Batroun, Akkar... In Bekaa, firefighters extinguished a fire that ravaged significant areas in the state lands of Niha.
The Civil Defense also indicated it intervened in the Nabatieh region to fight fires caused by Israeli phosphorus bombs in the woods of Markaba, Houla, and Tallousseh. The fire destroyed a depot in the village of Aita al-Shaab. The agency also specified battling several blazes in many sectors in South Lebanon, notably in the Sour district.
Civil Defense urged residents to follow directives and avoid unintentional fire outbreaks, especially when weather conditions are so conducive to the spread of flames. The statement reminds readers of the emergency numbers: 125 or via WhatsApp 70-192693.
About a week ago, the international environmental defense association Greenpeace sounded the alarm on the effects of climate change in Lebanon, given the recent fires in the past week. In this regard, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani reminded that a state of emergency has been declared in the forestry sector to prevent catastrophes this year.