(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency)

Amman, July 18 (Petra) -- A massive wildfire that tore through acres of forestland in the Jerash Governorate was brought under control late Thursday night, authorities said.
Firefighting crews, backed by Black Hawk helicopters from the Royal Jordanian Air Force, police, Gendarmerie, and the Jerash Agriculture Directorate, battled the blaze for hours to contain its spread.
No one was injured in the inferno, a Public Security Department spokesperson confirmed. The spokesperson highlighted the critical role of coordinated efforts, modern equipment, and aerial support in rapidly taming the fire, especially given the rugged and challenging terrain that complicated ground access.
Crews are now working to cool down hot spots and prevent any rekindling, while an investigation has been launched to determine the cause.
Khalid Manaseer, Director of the Ministry of Agriculture's Forestry Directorate, told Petra news agency Friday that teams achieved full control over the fire, which had erupted Thursday evening.
The blaze caused significant destruction, Manaseer explained, consuming an estimated 200 to 250 dunams (about 49 to 62 acres) of natural forest. More than 1,400 native trees, vital to Jerash's woodlands, were damaged. Exact figures, he noted, would be finalized within the next two days after field surveys.
Manaseer credited the swift containment to the combined efforts, advanced equipment, and crucial helicopter support, which helped limit the fire's expansion despite the difficult landscape.
"Firefighting teams are currently cooling down the area and monitoring for any potential reignition," he said. Meanwhile, Ministry of Agriculture technical teams have begun assessing the full extent of the damage, paving the way for an urgent reforestation plan.
"We will replant the area with its original indigenous tree species, following an environmental plan that respects natural balance and ensures the sustainability of our forest cover," Manaseer affirmed. He emphasized the Ministry's zero-tolerance policy for forest threats, pledging to intensify summer monitoring and inspection as fire risks rise.

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