Fire keeps blazing through Morocco

Fire broke out in Haouz, central Morocco Another fire broke out in Haouz, central Morocco on Thursday. 30 hectares of forest have already been reduced to ashes. Official sources said that aircraft from The Royal Air Forces were unable to handle the fire because of strong winds. The cause of the fire has not been found yet, but the strong winds blowing in the area might have caused the spread of the fire towards inhabited areas.
The blaze initially destroyed 6 hectares, but spread onto 30 hectares within half a day.
A source said to Arabstoday that this fire was the most dangerous seen in the region for a long time. He added that the concerned authorities are working effortlessly to control the fire.
In the early hours of Wednesday The fire brigade was able to control the fire which broke out on Sunday night in Tetouan in North Morocco, after destroying about 100 hectares.
The Tangier environment regional director  Idris Mosbah said that the fire fighting team have made great efforts to control the fire and prevent further spread.
Minister-in-charge of Relations with the Parliament and Civil Society  Habib Choubani said that the governmental work in the forest fire prevention reduced significantly the losses experienced by the Kingdom’s forests.
Choubani said that the recorded forest fires during the last three years have seen a continuous decrease, as it went from 500 fires in 2010 to 411 in 2011. It didn’t exceed 276 fires during the current year.
This decrease came with an important decline of the areas destroyed by fire, as it didn’t exceed 1241 hectares in comparison to 4700 hectares in 2010. He pointed out that 85% of the fires are put out before reaching 5 hectares.