Rabat – Reports by local authorities have indicated that the wildfire that erupted earlier this week in the Cap Spartel Forest in Tangier, northern Morocco, has been effectively reined in.
Containment level has reached 85%, said Fouad Assali, the head of the National Center for Forest Climate Risk Management within the National Agency for Water and Forests, lauding the diligent work undertaken by both ground and aerial intervention teams.
The collaborative operation, he stated, yielded substantial progress in putting down the fire.
The fire was first reported on Thursday, around 6:00 p.m., originating within the “Donabo” locality in the Forest. Robust winds and challenging topography exacerbated the fire and made it challenging for firefighters.
In a statement, Assali reassured the public that a swift and coordinated response was triggered as soon as the alert was sounded.
To put down the fire, authorities sent nearly 600 personnel from diverse entities including the Civil Protection, Royal Armed Forces, Auxiliary Forces, Royal Gendarmerie, National Security, National Promotion, Water and Forest agencies, and local governing bodies.
To support the ground operation, four “Canadair” aircraft from the Royal Air Forces have provided crucial aerial support. In addition, two “Turbo Thrush” aircraft, operated by Royal Gendarmerie, assisted in the efforts to put down the fire.
The fire destroyed close to 40 hectares of the forest, in an area that predominantly contained pine trees, the official reported, adding that no human casualties were recorded. He further noted that certain residential structures did sustain minor damages.
