Marrakech – All forest fires registered across Morocco in the past 24 hours have been successfully contained, the National Water and Forest Agency (ANEF) announced Friday. The eight fires, including six in forest domains and two outside forest areas, affected approximately 20 hectares of land.
The largest fire occurred in Tetouan province, burning 15 hectares of forest land. Authorities have contained the blaze, with operations to extinguish remaining hot spots still ongoing.
Other affected areas include Khenifra (3.5 hectares), Chefchaouen (1.1 hectares), Khemisset (0.095 hectares), Casablanca (0.02 hectares), and Midelt (10 square meters), where a fire was naturally triggered by lightning.
Additional fire outbreaks were reported outside forest domains in Taza and Sidi Slimane provinces.
From January 1 to June 20, Morocco has recorded 111 forest fires, a figure below the ten-year average of 130 incidents. The total burned area stands at 130 hectares, representing just one-fourth of the average for the past decade.
The successful containment comes despite ANEF’s warning issued last Sunday. Based on scientific prediction models, the agency had identified high to extreme risk levels for forest fires between June 16 and 20 across several provinces.
These include Azilal, Beni Mellal, Chefchaouen, Kenitra, Khemisset, Larache, Tanger-Assilah, Tetouan, M’diq-Fnideq, Taounate, Taza, Nador, Al Hoceima, and Ouezzane.
ANEF is urging citizens to maintain maximum vigilance, particularly in high-risk forest zones. The agency stressed that people should not light fires in natural environments, avoid discarding cigarette butts or flammable waste, and immediately report any smoke or suspicious behavior to local authorities, forest agents, or civil protection services.
The positive outcomes this year build on Morocco’s impressive forest fire management record in 2024, when the country achieved an 86% reduction in burned areas compared to 2023.
Last year, only 874 hectares were affected by 382 forest fires, making Morocco the Mediterranean country with the lowest burned area despite extreme weather conditions.
For the 2025 season, ANEF has allocated MAD 160 million ($16 million) for prevention, surveillance, and firefighting efforts, with 90% dedicated to preventive measures. The agency continues implementing its 2023-2033 Intersectoral Master Plan to improve integrated fire risk management.
