Wildfire near Tetouan destroys 15 hectares of forest, authorities detain arson suspect

 A wildfire broke out Thursday in the Ouad Rass forest near the commune of Ain Lahsan, on the outskirts of Tetouan, consuming approximately 15 hectares of dense pine-covered woodland and prompting a large-scale emergency response.

The fire, which started around noon, initially erupted in a single location before a second blaze ignited roughly a kilometer away, according to Fouad El Assali, director of the National Center for Climate Risk Management at Morocco’s National Water Agency.

Ground crews and firefighting units were quickly mobilized, with aerial support from four Canadair water bombers aiding efforts to contain the flames. El Assali noted that the first outbreak was brought under control in a short period of time, thanks in part to the intensive air operations that bolstered land-based teams.

“Efforts to fully extinguish the fire are still ongoing,” he told Hespress AR, adding that the coordinated response involved members of civil protection, the Royal Gendarmerie, auxiliary forces, and the Department of Water and Forests.

El Assali emphasized that the swift field deployment of emergency personnel helped prevent the fire from spreading further, thereby averting potentially catastrophic damage. He also pointed to high temperatures and winds reaching up to 20 kilometers per hour as factors complicating firefighting efforts.

Authorities have detained a suspect believed to be involved in deliberately setting the fire. Investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the individual’s role in igniting the blaze.

The National Agency for Water and Forests had recently updated its fire risk forecast maps for Morocco for the period of June 16–20. Several provinces were categorized under the red level, indicating “extreme danger,” while others—including Tetouan—were placed under the orange level for “high risk.”

Other high-risk zones identified include Agadir-Ida Outanane, Al Hoceima, Berkane, Fahs-Anjra, Ifrane, Khénifra, M’diq-Fnideq, Nador, Ouezzane, Oujda-Angad, Skhirat-Témara, Taourirt, and Taroudant.

El Assali praised the effectiveness of early warning bulletins, saying they allowed authorities to respond quickly and allocate resources proactively. He urged residents, forest workers, and visitors to exercise extreme caution in forested areas, avoid activities that could trigger wildfires, and report any smoke or suspicious behavior to local authorities immediately.

At press time, both aerial and ground firefighting efforts remained active as officials worked to fully extinguish the flames and assess the extent of environmental damage.