Over the past 24 hours on June 19, Morocco reported eight fires, including six in forested areas and two outside. According to the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), «rapid and coordinated interventions» by emergency services allowed full control of all incidents, with the total affected area estimated at 20 hectares. By province, ANEF states that 15 hectares were affected in Tetouan. The agency also confirmed that efforts to extinguish remaining smoldering spots are ongoing. In Khénifra, 3.5 hectares were impacted, while flames destroyed 1.1 hectares in Chefchaouen, 0.095 hectares in Khémisset, and 0.02 hectares in Casablanca. In Midelt, a fire covering 10 square meters was determined to be of natural origin, caused by a lightning strike. Additionally, fires controlled in Taza and Sidi Slimane occurred outside forested areas. In this context, ANEF recalled the alert issued on June 15, 2025. Based on scientific predictive models, the agency identified «a high to extreme risk level of forest fires breaking out between June 16 and 20 in several provinces, including Azilal, Béni Mellal, Chefchaouen, Kénitra, Khémisset, Larache, Tanger-Assilah, Tétouan, M'diq-Fnideq, Taounate, Taza, Nador, Al Hoceïma, and Ouezzane». Given this, ANEF called for increased vigilance, especially in high-risk forest areas. «It is imperative not to light fires in natural environments, not to discard cigarette butts or flammable waste, and to immediately report any smoke or suspicious behavior to local authorities, water and forest agents, or civil protection», the agency emphasized. In the same statement, ANEF noted that from January 1 to June 20, 2025, Morocco recorded 111 forest fires, a decrease compared to the ten-year average of 130. Over the same period, the total burned area amounted to 130 hectares, «which is four times less than the average over the past ten years».
