A new fire engulfs the Ziz Oasis in Ait Amira

On Friday morning, a fire broke out again in the Ziz oasis in the Ait Amira region, which belongs to the community of Orfus in the Errachidia governorate. This caused fear and anxiety among local residents and relevant authorities, especially because strong winds caused the fire to spread rapidly.

The fire, which broke out suddenly and mysteriously in the Ziz Oasis in the Ait Amira region, amid adverse climatic conditions such as strong winds and a shortage of water points, required the rapid intervention and close collaboration of various agencies such as Civil Defence, Fire and the Army, the Royal Gendarmerie, Auxiliary Forces, and local and resident authorities to control the situation.

“We are continuously working, in coordination with the Royal Gendarmerie, the Royal Armed Forces and local authorities, to bring the fire under control,” an official source at the scene said in a statement to Hespress, adding that the biggest challenge lies in the difficult climatic conditions and the nature of the geographical area, urging the government to strengthen firefighting means in the region.

Around this topic, residents of the southeastern oases have made a strong voice, demanding the strengthening of firefighting means and the improvement of mechanisms to protect oases from fire hazards, and pointed out that oases need to conduct specialized research on the types of fire threats they pose and the best ways to deal with them, and must also invest in early warning technology and remote monitoring to improve fire response.

Amid the efforts, Al-Hussein Oubha, a resident of Deraa Oasis, said: “We value the efforts of all those involved, but we ask the government to provide Air Canada planes specifically for firefighting, which are necessary to protect the oasis, which is considered a national treasure.”

Oba added: “Oases are not just green spaces, but also cultural, environmental and economic heritage. We need a comprehensive strategy to protect them, which includes setting up dedicated fire stations in oasis areas and training local teams in oasis firefighting techniques,” he said.

It is worth noting that the Ziz Oasis, like other oases, is one of the most important oases in southeastern Morocco, known for its palm trees and date production. In recent years, the oasis has also suffered similar fires. This has raised concerns about the impact of these recurring events on the environment and the local economy.