The General Directorate of Civil Protection has implemented a “proactive plan” to prevent and combat fires, deploying 20,000 intervention agents and 505 units within the forest sector, supplemented by 65 mobile columns.
In a statement to the Algerian Press Service (APS), the Deputy Director of Operations at the General Directorate of Civil Protection, Lieutenant Colonel Karim Habbi, explained that this plan is part of the national strategy to reduce fires and address various risks associated with the summer season.
Karim Habbi emphasized that a robust security mechanism has been established to intervene in the event of fires in forests, agricultural crops, and palm groves. This includes “mobilizing 505 units within the forest sector as the first line of intervention, supplemented by 65 mobile columns, with at least one column in each province and two to three columns in provinces with dense forest cover, in addition to mobilizing 20,000 intervention agents to address potential risks.”
He also revealed the creation of five regional detachments for forest fire fighting, comprising 165 agents and supported by 45 heavy vehicles and firefighting equipment. These detachments are distributed across the provinces of Sidi Bel Abbes, Chlef, Blida, Setif, and El Tarf.
“In addition, the aerial group of the Civil Protection unit and 12 leased aircraft have been deployed at the airports of Annaba, Bejaia, and Mostaganem to access difficult terrain and facilitate firefighting operations,” the official added.
He noted that this year a “forest fire simulation exercise involving two provinces was conducted to test all resources allocated for this purpose, including mobile columns, communication means between the operational command center and aerial resources used, as well as communication between various aerial resources.”
Lieutenant Colonel Habbi highlighted the importance of the National Coordination Center in taking “proactive” measures to prevent forest fires by “relying on digital platforms and enhancing coordination with various stakeholders such as the National Meteorological Office and the Algerian Space Agency to facilitate communication and accelerate interventions.”
Forest Fire Prevention Plan
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