Firefighters Battle Flames Near Chefchaouen

Rabat – Morocco – August 14, 2025 – 

A major forest fire in northern Morocco, near the tourist city of Chefchaouen, is currently being battled by firefighting crews and Canadair aircraft as it continues to spread. The blaze, which has been officially declared a “major” incident, has devastated hundreds of hectares of forest and agricultural land, with strong winds and rugged terrain making containment efforts extremely challenging.

The fire, which broke out on Tuesday, has been fueled by a combination of high temperatures, strong winds known as “chergui” that blow in from the Sahara, and a persistent drought that has gripped the region since 2018. While authorities report that a significant portion of the blaze is now under control, the operation to fully extinguish the fire is ongoing. The National Water and Forests Agency (ANEF) has mobilized approximately 450 personnel from civil protection, the Royal Armed Forces, and local authorities, in addition to deploying three Canadair firefighting aircraft to the area.

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The fire has caused significant damage between the towns of Bab Taza and Derdara, with residents of nearby villages assisting firefighters with buckets of water in a desperate effort to protect their homes and livelihoods. According to Said Benjira, the regional director for water and forests, around 500 hectares of forest and fields have been destroyed. The rugged, mountainous terrain of the Rif mountains has made it difficult for ground crews to access the most active hotspots, making the role of the Canadair water bombers critical. The planes have been executing successive sorties, dropping massive quantities of water on the flames, even as thick clouds of smoke have at times obscured their operations.

Moroccan authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. While the specific cause of this blaze is yet to be confirmed, officials have previously noted that a significant majority of forest fires in the country are caused by human activity, whether accidental or deliberate. A man was reportedly detained on Tuesday evening on suspicion of starting the fire by burning waste near the forest.

This latest fire incident comes amid a period of extreme fire danger across the Mediterranean basin, as highlighted by the EU’s Copernicus satellite monitoring program. Morocco’s meteorological service had recently warned of a heatwave reaching temperatures of up to 46°C (114.8°F) in several areas, creating perfect conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.

The incident is particularly alarming for the region, which has been grappling with the growing threat of climate change and its impact on forest ecosystems. While Morocco has made progress in reducing the overall number of fires in previous years, the intensity and scale of these new blazes are a cause for concern. The economic and social impact on local communities, who rely on the forests for grazing land, medicinal plants, and timber, is significant. The loss of agricultural fields and orchards, particularly olive trees, represents a major blow to residents in the affected areas.

As the firefighting operation continues, officials have stated that all human and logistical resources will remain mobilized until the fire is completely extinguished. The focus remains on protecting nearby residents and ensuring there are no casualties. The community and authorities alike are hoping for a swift and effective containment of the fire before it causes any more damage to the region’s natural resources and the livelihoods of those who call the Rif mountains home.