Algeria's Civil Protection has reinforced its teams and resources to combat ongoing wildfires, particularly in eastern wilayas, resulting in a marked improvement in containment by the end of the day.
Algeria's Civil Protection authorities have intensified their response to a series of wildfires affecting several eastern wilayas, deploying additional personnel and equipment to bolster existing efforts on the ground. Reinforcements included two regional forest fire units from Bouira and a detachment from the National Instruction and Intervention Unit, all redirected to support operations in Jijel. This escalation aims to strengthen rapid intervention capacity and operational readiness as fire conditions evolve, with the goal of improving the effectiveness of containment and extinguishing active fire fronts.
Strategic Reinforcements and Aerial Support in Eastern Algeria
The Civil Protection service described these measures as part of a proactive strategy to enhance operational coverage across eastern Algeria. The objective is to anticipate potential flare-ups and ensure immediate response capability. As of 13:00, authorities reported 43 forest fires nationwide, with 30 already extinguished and efforts ongoing to control 13 remaining outbreaks across five wilayas. The most active fires were concentrated in Jijel (nine sites), with single incidents in Skikda, Sétif, El Meghaier, and Mila.
Marked Improvement in Fire Containment by Day's End
In Jijel, fire suppression and mop-up operations continued at five locations, specifically in the communes of Djemaa Beni Habibi, Selma Ben Ziada, Texenna, Ouled Yahia Khedrouche, and Sidi Abdelaziz. Significant aerial assets were deployed, including two Air Tractor AT-802 water bombers, a Mi-26 helicopter, and a Beriev Be-200 aircraft. By the end of the day, authorities observed a clear reduction in active fires, following a peak of 123 vegetation and crop fires recorded by 7:00 that morning.
This latest mobilisation of resources comes as Algeria continues to face recurring wildfire threats, which have previously strained emergency services and highlighted the need for rapid, coordinated response. The country's approach to disaster management has also been tested by other recent emergencies, such as the large-scale operation to dismantle a transnational narcotics network, which underscored the complexity of cross-border security and logistics challenges in the region. For further context on Algeria's recent security operations, see the report on the dismantling of a major transnational drug network.
What to Watch Next
With fire activity now declining, attention will turn to post-incident assessments and the readiness of Civil Protection for future wildfire risks. Monitoring the effectiveness of these reinforcements and the integration of aerial assets will be critical as Algeria enters the peak of the fire season.
