With the participation of army helicopters, 90 percent of the forest fires in the western countryside of Hama is under control

Hama, (ST) –  The Director of the General Authority for Forest Management and Development, Eng. Awfa Wassouf announced that 90 percent of the fires that broke out yesterday evening in the mountainous forests located between the villages of Nabaa al-Tayeb and Anab has been under control, while firefighting teams are still dealing with some hotbeds of fire in areas with extremely rugged and steep land.

Wassouf clarified in a statement to a SANA reporter that a number of Syrian Arab Army helicopters participated in extinguishing the fire, especially on the rugged mountain slopes that were difficult for firefighting water tanks and vehicles to reach. He indicated that firefighting teams are working to cool other hotbeds of fire and monitor them during the coming hours for fear of their renewed outbreak due to strong winds.

Wassouf pointed out that 5 firefighters from the Ghab Forestry, Nahr al-Bared, Anab and Shatha teams are participating in the fire extinguishing operation, in addition to 3 firefighters from the Hama Agriculture Directorate, a firefighter from the Hama Fire Brigade, a firefighter from the Lattakia Forestry, a workers’ team from Qardaha, and firefighting teams from Burda and Qadmus in Tartous.

Raghda Sawas