Algeria’s Civil Protection Expands Technology-Driven Response as Wildfires Intensify
Algeria’s Civil Protection says it has responded to more than 1,400 fires since early July, highlighting the growing impact of climate change on wildfire risks while expanding the use of drones, artificial intelligence and early warning systems to improve emergency response.
BY Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — Algeria’s Civil Protection has responded to 1,437 fires since the beginning of July, underscoring the growing scale and complexity of the country’s wildfire season as authorities increasingly rely on advanced technologies and early intervention to contain blazes.
Speaking to local broadcaster El Khabar TV, Colonel Farouk Achour, inspector at the General Directorate of Civil Protection, said wildfire management has evolved beyond conventional firefighting operations into an integrated response involving emergency services, public institutions, volunteers and local communities.
Achour said Civil Protection had recorded 465 forest fires across 35 provinces and 972 agricultural and orchard fires in 47 provinces since weather alerts were first issued on 8 July.
At the time of the interview, authorities were battling 19 active fires in the provinces of Skikda, Guelma, Bouira, Mascara and Médéa, although he said the blazes had largely been brought under control despite difficult conditions caused by strong winds and rugged terrain.
He attributed the increasing complexity of wildfire seasons to climate change, noting that Algeria has experienced the same trend affecting many Mediterranean countries, where rising temperatures and prolonged heatwaves have significantly heightened fire risks.
Heavy rainfall earlier in the year also contributed to dense vegetation growth, which later became highly combustible under extreme summer temperatures, creating particularly challenging conditions for firefighters, he said.
Achour stressed that protecting lives and residential areas remains the primary objective whenever fires threaten communities located near or within forested zones.
He identified Mila, Béjaïa, Guelma, Tizi Ouzou, Bouira, Sidi Bel Abbès, Mascara and Saïda among the provinces most affected by multiple simultaneous fires, requiring the activation of specialized emergency response plans.
Civil Protection currently deploys around 19,000 personnel daily through a nationwide network of 505 operational units, supported by mobile intervention teams, regional reinforcement units and specialized aerial firefighting assets.
Achour said authorities have strengthened their operational capabilities by introducing drones, daily wildfire risk mapping based on meteorological indicators and artificial intelligence tools capable of identifying areas most vulnerable to fires and directing resources proactively.
A national operations coordination centre monitors emergency interventions around the clock, analysing incoming information and coordinating the deployment of ground and aerial resources according to the evolution of each incident.
Achour also emphasized the importance of public participation, saying early reporting remains one of the most decisive factors in limiting wildfire spread.
“The first few minutes are critical,” he said, urging residents living near forests to clear dry vegetation around their homes, avoid activities that could ignite fires and immediately report any signs of smoke or suspicious behaviour.
He praised the solidarity shown by citizens while encouraging volunteers to undergo formal emergency training to ensure their assistance can be provided safely during firefighting operations.
According to Achour, four civilian fatalities had been confirmed during the period covered by the interview—two in Guelma and two in Sétif—with judicial authorities continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. He also acknowledged injuries sustained by several Civil Protection personnel during operations conducted under particularly hazardous conditions.
He concluded by calling on citizens to protect Algeria’s forests, describing them as a collective national asset, and warned that recently strengthened legislation provides for tougher penalties against those responsible for causing wildfires, whether deliberately or through negligence.
— 𝐄𝐍𝐃 —
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