5 incendios asolan el norte de Marruecos

Up to three fires were declared on Thursday morning, July 14, in the province of Larache, in northern Morocco. According to the authorities, the fires broke out in the wooded areas known as Beni Ysef Al Srif, Lambika and Sahel El Menzla. 

The government has mobilised all its resources to fight the three outbreaks, which have already burned up to 800 hectares of coniferous and scrub forest. Firefighters, assisted by the Moroccan gendarmerie, the armed forces and the auxiliary forces have been working in the area since Friday morning.  According to the daily Le Desk, civilian volunteers from nearby villages have also been mobilised. 

Several air tankers and four fire-fighting planes have been deployed alongside firefighters. According to the EFE news agency, up to 500 families were evacuated on Thursday night in the province of Larache. The same sources say that around 900 hectares have been burnt in the province of Larache. The fires are threatening the towns of Larache and Alcazarquivir. 

At the same time, in the province of Taza, further east, two other outbreaks of fire have been declared. Both are inside the Tazeka national park. 
The fires broke out in the middle of a heat wave. The area is known for its fire-prone forest areas. In addition to pine trees, there are many eucalyptus trees in both Larache and Taza, a tree that is very vulnerable to fire. 

Some Moroccan media are already raising the hypothesis that the fires may be arson. The daily 360 quotes local sources as believing so. No official investigation has yet declared it.