MAR: Fire - 07-2026 - Ouneine-Ijoukak Wildfire (2026-07-17)

## **Description** On Wednesday, July 15, a wildfire has broken out in the forest area located between the mountainous communes of Ounaine, in Taroudant Province, and Ijoukak, in Al Haouz province, west-central and southwestern Morocco. The fire spread rapidly due to a combination of strong winds, high temperatures, and rugged mountainous terrain, increasing the risk to surrounding forest ecosystems and nearby communities. Early estimates indicated an affected area of 100 hectares. Emergency response operations were swiftly launched to contain the blaze. Access to the affected area is challenging because of the steep and difficult terrain, limiting the deployment of heavy firefighting equipment and complicating suppression efforts. Intervention focused on preventing the fire from reaching nearby inhabited areas through manual extinction and aerial firefighting. According to the latest official statements, 14 hectares have been consumed by the fires in Al Haouz. Authorities in Taroudant are yet to release corresponding figures. While the fire is reportedly contained on the Ijoukak side with no deaths or injuries, authorities remain vigilant. MRCS continues to assess the situation in coordination with the local actors. ## **Request For Assistance** Government Requests International Assistance: **No** NS Requests International Assistance: **No** ## **Information Bulletin Published** No ## **Actions taken by Federation** ### **General** Other **Summary:** Monitoring the situation ## **Actions taken by National Society** ### **General** Other **Summary:** Monitoring the situation through active staff/volunteers in the area and coordination with authorities ## **Actions taken by others** Moroccan authorities have mobilized around 150 agents from the Royal Gendarmerie, Civil Protection, Auxiliary Forces, and the National Agency for Water and Forests, to establish containment lines and support ground operations. Aerial firefighters have also been deployed along mountainous ridges that are difficult to access from the ground.