Firefighting teams backed by the Royal Armed Forces and three Canadair aircraft battled a major forest fire in Khemis Sahel on Saturday, as several families were evacuated from areas threatened by the flames.
The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in the El Qlaïyine forest in Larache province and spread across large areas of woodland.
Three Canadair aircraft carried out repeated water drops over fire hotspots in the forest overlooking the historic city and tourist resort of Lixus.
Strong Chergui winds and high temperatures complicated the operation, helping the flames spread towards nearby villages.
Massive fire on the outskirts of Larache.
Army personnel were deployed to reinforce teams from the Civil Protection, Auxiliary Forces, Royal Gendarmerie, local authorities and Water and Forests services. Tanker trucks and other equipment were also sent to the area.
Residents from Sahel and neighbouring areas joined the effort, helping firefighting teams keep the flames away from homes and farmland.
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Authorities also temporarily closed the provincial road between Larache and Sahel near the entrance to the Lixus resort. The closure was intended to keep motorists away from the affected area and give emergency vehicles easier access.
Firefighting operations were still under way at the time of the latest information available on Saturday, while the cause of the fire had yet to be established.
