Post: Tunisia Battles Three Active Forest Fires Amid Heatwave

Tunis: Tunisia recorded 90 forest fires between July 11 and July 22, according to Khalil Mechri, Head of Operations and Monitoring at the National Civil Protection Office's Operations Department. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mechri said 77 fires have been fully extinguished, while 10 remain in the cooling phase. Three fires are still active in Jebel Takrouna in Sakiet Sidi Youssef (Kef governorate), Cap Negro in Nefza (Béja governorate), and the Rafraf and Sidi Ali El Mekki areas in Bizerte governorate.According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse - English, no fatalities have been recorded in any of the fires, most of which were caused by the exceptional heatwave affecting Tunisia. Since June 1, Civil Protection has recorded 101 forest fires, burning 1,787.7 hectares, compared with 62 forest fires in the same period of 2025, which destroyed around 300 hectares. Over the past 72 hours, Civil Protection units carried out 2,700 interventions across the country, averaging one intervention every five minutes. During the same period, authorities recorded around 900 fires of all types, also averaging one fire every five minutes.Regarding the ongoing wildfires, Mechri said firefighters have brought the Jebel Nadhour, Ghar El Melh, and Rafraf fire in Bizerte governorate under 80% control, with cooling operations well underway. Firefighting efforts involve 11 Civil Protection fire engines, four forest fire trucks, a National Guard water tanker, and a military firefighting aircraft. He said the priority has been protecting lives, residential areas, and property. Three people suffering from breathing difficulties were treated and transferred to hospital, while eight women and six infants were evacuated before being allowed to return home once the danger had passed. Four restaurants in the tourist area of El Bounta in Ghar El Melh were also damaged by fire in a location that is difficult to access due to its mountainous coastal terrain.Mechri added that the Jebel Ghar Kalia-Cap Negro wildfire in Nefza, Béja g overnorate, which broke out on Monday, is now about 50% contained, despite the rugged terrain. Firefighting operations there include six Civil Protection fire engines, five forest fire trucks, a National Guard water tanker, a bulldozer, and a firefighting aircraft. As for the Jebel Takrouna fire in Sakiet Sidi Youssef, Kef governorate, eight Civil Protection fire engines, four forest fire trucks, a bulldozer, and a firefighting aircraft were deployed. Four residential areas were protected, and a family of two was evacuated. The blaze spread to two storage facilities, one containing 400 hay bales and 100 sacks of wheat, and another storing wooden boards. Mechri explained that the fire split into two fronts: one was reached after bulldozers opened access routes for fire engines, while the second could only be tackled from the air because of the difficult terrain.He also announced that the Jebel Oued Berber fire in Fernana, Jendouba governorate, which erupted on Tuesday, has been fully extinguished and is now under cooling and monitoring. Mechri said Civil Protection had taken preventive measures ahead of the summer season by reinforcing staffing levels, introducing a work system to increase available personnel through administrative officers and staff, and deploying 10 additional fire engines from southern governorates less exposed to forest fires to the National Civil Protection School in Jebel Jelloud.