20 hectares, thousands of trees burned in large Akkar fire

AKKAR — More than 20 hectares of land went up in smoke on the mountains of Kobeyat in a major fire that broke out in the region on Sunday evening, and resumed late Monday afternoon after being brought under control in the morning, according to a preliminary assessment by Georges Mitri, Director of the Land and Natural Resources Program at Balamand University, quoted by L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region.

In his preliminary assessment, Georges Mitri, director of the land and natural resources program at the University of Balamand, estimated that the fire "affected more than 20 hectares in an area where the vegetation's ability to regenerate after a fire is very limited due to the nature of the site and its climatic and environmental conditions."

In the late afternoon, the fire broke out again in the “Bathat al-Shouh” area due to the wind. Firefighters were deployed to control it.

L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North estimated that "thousands of trees," mostly pines and firs, had gone up in smoke, describing widespread environmental damage. Firefighters were initially forced to battle the flames with makeshift means as their fire trucks were unable to navigate the rough terrain. Hours later, by dawn, an army helicopter was finally deployed to assist from the air.

The flames were quick to spread due to strong winds and an especially dry summer season, after Lebanon's winter rains were much less this year. The fire had reached the "Bathat al-Shouh" nature reserve in the last few hours and was approaching homes.

In the wake of the fire, the municipality of Kobeyat lodged a complaint with the North Lebanon Court of Appeal, which launched an investigation. An expert was appointed to draw up a full scientific report explaining the causes of the fire and its environmental impact on the region. Logistical support was also provided to the firefighting teams deployed in the field. A field monitoring team was also formed to ensure ongoing monitoring of the fire site, with the aim of preventing its reactivation.

The speed of the wind

The president of the Qobeiyat Environmental Council, Antoine Daher, noted that the location where the fire broke out had already been the site of four separate wildfires in the last five days, each which had been extinguished, he said.

But the "catastrophe" of Sunday evening was due to the wind speed, he said. Cooling operations will continue to prevent a resurgence of the flames, alongside efforts to extinguish the still active hotspots.

Daher praised the efforts of Civil Defense teams, the army, the residents of Qobeiyat, and the environmental activists of the "Les sentiers du Akkar" (Darb Akkar) environmental protection association. Young people from the region, including Scouts, distributed sandwiches and bottles of water to volunteers and firefighters.

In late March, Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani declared a state of emergency for the preservation of Lebanon's forests, threatened notably by climate change, recurring fires, and illegal and widespread logging. One of the measures taken in this regard is the mobilization of law enforcement in areas where trees are regularly cut down.

In April, Greenpeace estimated that the recent fires recorded in Lebanon, even before the start of summer, were "an alarming indicator of the worsening effects of climate change in the region."

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'Strengthen preventive measures'

Environment Minister Tamara Elzein inspected the site of the fire in the early afternoon and was debriefed on the extent of the environmental damage. She released a statement afterward commending the work of the firefighters, Civil Defense teams, the army, and local volunteers.

She called for "those who commit crimes against the environment" to be "held accountable," adding that much of the issue can be addressed through preventative measures and strengthened response capabilities.

"This year is marked by an unusually dry season due to the low amount of rainfall," she noted, "which increases the likelihood of similar fires and necessitates strengthening preventive measures and increasing environmental awareness."

Reporting contributed by L'Orient Today's correspondent in the North, Michel Hallak.