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Civil Defense: Complete Control of the Miyaas Forest Fire in Hama Countryside
The Syrian Civil Defense announced today, Sunday, that the wildfire that recently broke out in the mountainous areas of Miyaas in western Hama countryside has been fully brought under control. They confirmed that the firefighting teams are currently continuing monitoring and field surveillance, in preparation for any potential resurgence of the flames.
In their official statement, Civil Defense indicated that the operation and firefighting teams, in cooperation with forest protection units and defense centers, succeeded in definitively extinguishing the fire before dawn today on the highest mountain ridges, after intensive efforts that lasted until 2 a.m. The teams worked to sweep and carefully monitor the affected area, securing accessible paths to prevent the return of the fire, especially with the ongoing activity of the winds, which facilitates the spread of the flames.
A forest fire had broken out last Friday in a nearby mountainous area near Miyaas, which was successfully dealt with by Civil Defense teams, in cooperation with fire brigades and local residents. Due to the rugged terrain and high temperatures, the firefighting efforts faced significant challenges.
Fires in Syrian forests, especially in the rural areas of Latakia, Tishreen, and Homs, are a recurring phenomenon that poses environmental and economic threats, leading to the destruction of green spaces that are vital natural resources for the country. In recent years, most of these fires are suspected to be intentionally set, often by regime forces and militias, aiming to cover up illegal logging and timber sales during winter, amid weak oversight and unstable conditions.
Experts and activists warn that the exploitation of forests and the deliberate setting of fires are part of organized plans to achieve financial gains through resource extraction, taking advantage of weak oversight and security challenges. This makes it even more difficult to control these recurring phenomena, especially given the limited capabilities available to contain and prevent the spread of the fires.
