(MENAFN) Moroccan officials persisted on Wednesday in their efforts to contain widespread forest fires that have erupted in the northern province of Chefchaouen.

The firefighting operation continues after the blaze ignited on Tuesday, and emergency response units remain mobilized.

As reported by a correspondent from a news agency, the response includes the deployment of Canadair amphibious firefighting aircraft to combat the flames.

These specialized planes are part of the ongoing strategy to suppress the fire and prevent further spread.

Fortunately, no deaths have been recorded in connection with the incident.

The wildfire began in the Dardara forest, located on the outskirts of Chefchaouen, during a period of unusually high temperatures, according to a representative from the Moroccan National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF).

The official noted that both aerial firefighting assets and ground-based civil protection units continue their mission to extinguish the blaze.

“The people of the area didn’t sleep all night as they worked to help extinguish the fires,” said Suleiman Rakib, a local inhabitant, in a statement to the news agency.

He mentioned that the fire has inflicted serious damage, particularly to olive groves.

Eyewitnesses highlighted that the mountainous, forest-covered landscape has complicated efforts to control the inferno, hindering access and response effectiveness.

Abderrahim Houmy, the head of the National Water and Forest Agency, informed the news agency that the fire has ravaged approximately 500 hectares of woodland. He described the event as “among the largest in the country in 2025.”

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