Authorities in northern Morocco have raised wildfire readiness after crews contained a forest fire near Tetouan that threatened nearly 2,000 hectares, a regional forestry official said.
The blaze broke out on Saturday in the Kitan forest, in the Zaitoun commune under Azla near Tetouan, prompting a rapid response by civil protection units, the Royal Armed Forces, local authorities, forestry teams, auxiliary forces and nearby residents.
Said Benjira, regional director of the National Agency for Water and Forests in Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, told Hespress that the fire burned around five hectares before being brought under control.
Two Canadair firefighting aircraft and a Royal Gendarmerie helicopter supported ground crews, helping prevent the flames from spreading across a much larger forested area.
Benjira said emergency services remained on maximum alert as high temperatures increase the risk of further fires across the region.
He urged residents and summer visitors to avoid activities that could spark fires and to report smoke or flames immediately, stressing that early intervention is critical to containing outbreaks.
Morocco’s heightened vigilance comes as several Mediterranean countries, including Algeria, Tunisia, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, battle major wildfires during an exceptionally hot summer.
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