Friday was a day of intense mobilization for Lebanon’s Civil Defense, which battled multiple blazes threatening forests and residential areas. The most critical intervention occurred Friday afternoon in the Shouf district, where a large-scale fire broke out between the towns of Debbieh, Barja, and Bkachtine.
Firefighting teams, supported by two army helicopters, fought the flames for hours—through the night—in harsh weather conditions marked by strong gusts of wind. The wind accelerated the spread of the fire, posing a serious threat to residential zones, particularly around Debbieh, with a risk of extension toward Jahliyeh and Mechref.
Around twenty firefighting vehicles and dozens of responders from various centers were deployed. In some cases, teams advanced on foot with manual tools in steep terrain, setting up strategic water supply points to protect homes and prevent the flames from reaching forested areas. Their efforts managed to contain the blaze and save neighboring localities from disaster.
Meanwhile, other fires were tackled in Bednayel and Majdalya (Koura), as well as between Maghdoucheh and Ghazieh, where monitoring posts were established to prevent flare-ups.
The Civil Defense urged the public to avoid lighting fires in green spaces or using fireworks, and reminded citizens that any fire outbreak should be reported immediately by calling 125 or via WhatsApp at +961 70 192 693.
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