Firefighters Extinguish Forest Fire in Qudsya, Rif Dimashq
Civil defense teams in the Rif Dimashq Governorate successfully brought a forest fire under control on Wednesday after the blaze broke out in the environmental forest located near the Al-Ahrar residential district in the Qudsya area. Firefighting efforts were completed without any reported casualties or structural damage.
Providing details on the operation, Rafeh Al-Akash, director of the Civil Defense Center in Qudsya, stated that crews arrived at the scene shortly after the fire was reported. While the teams managed to contain the flames, the operation faced significant challenges. Al-Akash noted that firefighters had to exercise extreme caution throughout the process due to the presence of unexploded ordnance—remnants of war—found within the fire zone. The discovery of these hazards required specialized handling and a methodical approach to ensure the area was effectively secured and neutralized.
Following the successful containment of the fire, civil defense crews have remained on-site to conduct extensive cooling operations. These measures are intended to prevent any potential re-ignition, as the team continues to monitor the affected area to ensure full control of the site is maintained.
This incident follows another forest fire reported just one day prior in the Jdeideh Yabous area of Rif Dimashq, located along the Syrian-Lebanese border. That operation saw a large-scale response involving nine firefighting centers working in coordination with forestry points overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture. The recent frequency of such incidents in the region has heightened the vigilance of local emergency responders, who continue to prioritize the protection of forested areas and public safety.
The environmental forest in Qudsya serves as a significant green space for the local community, making the rapid intervention of the civil defense critical in preserving the area. Authorities have emphasized that the success of these operations is a result of the coordination between local response centers and the ongoing surveillance protocols designed to safeguard the environment from further threats.
As cooling and monitoring activities conclude in Qudsya, local officials continue to stress the dangers posed by war remnants in rural areas of Damascus. These hazards remain a persistent concern during emergency operations, necessitating specialized training and constant awareness among first responders working to clear sites and prevent further ecological or human harm.
