Members of Civil Defense during firefighting operations near the Tannourine cedar forest in North Lebanon, on Aug. 24, 2026. (Credit: Civil Defense)
BEIRUT — A major fire that broke out Monday on the outskirts of the Tannourine cedar forest in northern Lebanon was brought under control after several hours of firefighting, Civil Defense said Tuesday.
Cooling and monitoring operations continued until 3 a.m. in a particularly steep and hard-to-reach area. Crews then left the site after ensuring that no hotspots remained.
The fire started in agricultural fields on a hillside opposite the reserve, on the Hadath al-Jibbe side (Bsharri district), according to entomologist Nabil Nemr, a member of the Tannourine Reserve committee and head of scientific research at the site. A valley separates the fire's origin from the cedar forest, but strong winds Monday raised fears that the flames could spread toward the reserve.
Nemr said the fire may have been sparked by dry grass burned by farmers in their fields. Civil Defense said Tuesday that teams from about 10 centers took part in the firefighting effort, supported by the Lebanese Army's second artillery regiment and helicopters.
The rugged terrain made it difficult to reach several hotspots. Firefighters eventually managed to encircle the blaze and prevent it from spreading toward the Tannourine cedar reserve and surrounding areas.
Rescuer injured
A Civil Defense rescuer was injured and suffered fractures when an old land mine from the Civil War exploded during firefighting operations. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
According to a Civil Defense statement issued Monday, the mine was detonated by a falling rock. One of the main front lines during the 1975-90 Lebanese Civil War ran through the Arz al-Bilad forest. Although the Lebanese Army and the NGO Mines Advisory Group have carried out several demining operations to open safe passages, not all mines have been cleared.
The reserve lies at the junction of Tannourine and Hadath al-Jibbe, at an elevation of about 1,500 meters. It is home to one of Lebanon's largest cedar forests and has a significant rate of natural cedar regeneration.
Several forest fires have broken out across Lebanon this month, particularly in the north, amid high temperatures, strong winds and drought. Fires also threatened the Tannourine reserve in 2022.
Firefighters and Civil Defense officials have repeatedly warned of a lack of resources to fight wildfires as Lebanon enters the peak of its fire season. The rainy season is not expected to begin until mid-October.
