LONDON: Syrian Civil Defense teams extinguished a large forest fire on Tuesday in Latakia province after more than 10 hours of work in what firefighters described as extremely hazardous conditions.
The blaze began in the village of Kabineh during a mine-clearing operation by Syrian Defense Ministry engineering units, killing one worker and injuring another, the Civil Defense said on its Telegram channel.
It quickly spread to nearby forests areas and reached the village of Al-Jubb Al-Ahmar, according to state news agency SANA.
As the fire advanced, crews worked to contain the flames while mine-clearance teams secured contaminated areas and access routes.
Strong winds, land mines and unexploded ordnance hampered operations, officials said, forcing responders to proceed cautiously.
Despite those challenges, authorities said the fire was brought under control, with cooling and monitoring operations continuing to prevent reignition.
Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed Al-Saleh said fires in Masyaf, the Al-Ghab Plain and Kabineh Hill had been “fully contained.”
The incident comes as Syria faces recurring wildfire threats during the summer months.
In July last year, wildfires swept across northwestern Latakia province, scorching more than 16,000 hectares of forest and farmland, damaging 45 villages and displacing thousands of civilians.
Those fires deepened an already severe humanitarian crisis in a region battered by more than a decade of war and economic collapse. Entire harvests — a critical source of food and income — were lost.
In response, Syrian authorities have stepped up fire prevention measures and preparedness efforts amid rising temperatures, according to SANA. These include public awareness campaigns, expanded field operations and coordination among government agencies.
Early data suggests fire incidents in Syria remain high. The Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management reported 2,367 fires in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 2,261 during the same period last year.
Environmental monitoring groups also point to sustained fire activity. According to Global Forest Watch, 285 high-confidence fire alerts have been recorded in Syria so far in 2026.
Over a longer period, 494 alerts were reported between July 28, 2025, and July 27, 2026 — levels considered consistent with historical averages since 2012.
Syria’s forests, which include aromatic tree species used in industry and habitats for wildlife, also play a key role in regulating rainfall, humidity and temperatures, highlighting the broader environmental impact of such fires.
