A wildfire that broke out on Saturday in the Khandaq Al Kahla forest in the commune of Ounan, in Morocco’s Chefchaouen province, destroyed approximately 30 hectares of forest, mainly consisting of cork oak trees and secondary vegetation, with no casualties reported, according to local sources.
The fire reportedly started after a drilling machine used for digging wells caught fire unexpectedly, with the flames quickly spreading to the surrounding forest.
Firefighters faced significant challenges from the outset due to the area’s rugged terrain, dense vegetation, strong winds, and high temperatures, which complicated access to some of the active fire fronts.
According to the same sources, two Canadair firefighting aircraft were deployed alongside ground crews, helping contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading further, thereby limiting more severe environmental damage.
The wildfire prompted a large-scale response involving the Civil Protection, the National Agency for Water and Forests, local authorities, the Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces, forest rangers, and volunteers from nearby communities.
Firefighting operations also received logistical support from the Bab Berred commune, which provided machinery and equipment to reinforce crews on the ground. Additional resources supplied by private-sector actors further strengthened efforts to bring the fire under control and curb its spread.
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