Algeria is battling a severe wildfire emergency this summer, with blazes ripping through forests, orchards, and grain fields across multiple regions. Fire crews have had almost no respite as new fires flare up day after day.
Since early summer, wildfires have multiplied to the point where almost nothing is spared—woodlands, fruit groves, and cereal crops are all being hit. On Monday alone, civil protection authorities recorded 110 forest fires in several provinces (wilayas) around the country.
Of those, 83 were fully extinguished by the end of the day, but 27 remained active in 15 different provinces. That level of activity shows how stretched emergency services are as they try to protect both communities and agricultural land.
Threats to mountain communities
Some of the fires have posed a direct threat to residents, especially in mountainous areas. Blazes near Beni Ourtilane in the Sétif region, and in the communes of Feraoun, Béni Maouche, and Béni Djellil in the Bejaïa region, came dangerously close to homes.
In the village of Tala Tinzer, authorities say the worst was narrowly avoided. Local station Radio Soummam reported that fires in the three affected Bejaïa communes were eventually brought under control and, crucially, no human casualties were recorded.
Heavy firefighting deployment
To confront the flames, civil protection services have deployed substantial air and ground assets. Water‑bombing aircraft, including Beriev BE‑200 tankers, heavy MI‑26 helicopters, and smaller AT‑802 firefighting planes, have been put into service.
On the ground, fire trucks and organized columns of firefighters have been sent into the hardest‑hit areas. Officials say emergency air and ground support plans for major incidents have been activated in regions such as Bejaïa, Mila, and Bouira to reinforce local crews.
Environmental and economic damage
Although there have been no reported deaths so far, the material damage is significant. Poultry barns have been destroyed, fruit trees reduced to ash, and uncounted animal losses reported in the rugged rural zones west of Bejaïa.
Hectares of forest have already gone up in smoke, and officials warn that the overall toll on land, livelihoods, and ecosystems is likely to be substantial. For now, authorities say no comprehensive official damage assessment has been released, underscoring how fluid and fast‑moving this fire season remains
