Amidst the ongoing heatwave that Morocco is experiencing, the National Agency of Water and Forests (ANEF) has issued warnings of “medium” to “severe” risk of wildfire during this unusually blistering period.
After comprehensive analysis of data relating to the heterogeneity of forest type, flammability and topo-climatic criteria, the agency found that Code Red fire risks have been identified in the Tangier-Assilah and Taounate regions (Northern Morocco).
The source pointed out that risks as high as the orange level exist in the regions of Chefchaouen, Larache, Kenitra, Sidi Slimane, Rabat, Khemisset, Taza, Sefrou, Ifrane, Khenifra, Beni Mellal, Azilal, Essaouira, Agadir Idaoutanan, with moderate risk levels (yellow) in the regions of Tetouan, Ouazane, Ibn Slimane, Oujda, Berkane and Taroudant
In this context, the ANEF urged individuals living near forests–as well as all beachgoers, vacationers, and forest workers–to exercise caution and take the necessary precautions to avoid the outbreak of forest fires, while urging them to notify the local authorities should they observe any smoke or other suspicious developments.
In order to anticipate the problem of forest fire in Morocco, the Agency indicated that it is working on a daily basis through its own scientific methodology to generate maps which precisely pinpoint the areas of highest risk throughout the Kingdom, concluded the statement.