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More than 700 firefighters extinguished a fire which broke out in Uwayra over a 60 km area, spreading to other villages in the vicinity.

According to Gen. Ali bin Abdullah Al-Sawat, director of Civil Defense in Baha, a state of emergency was declared as the fire lasted for more than 60 hours. However, there were no casualties.

Al-Sawat said that the firefighters took turns to protect neighboring houses and used modern equipment to contain the fires.

He said that the firefighting units were able to fight the fires that broke out in a nearby forest of juniper trees and thick grass in very rugged terrain. “They used hoses stretching hundreds of meters to reach the area owing to the lack of paved roads in that rocky area,” he added.

Al-Sawat confirmed that 300 safety patrols and 250 water tanks from the Civil Defense, the Water Company and Baha municipality participated in the operations, along with the extensive efforts of the supportive government agencies of the traffic department, the health department, the Saudi Red Crescent and the Electricity Company.

Al-Sawat said the operations were under the direct supervision and directions of the Al-Baha governor.

“The governor was in close touch with the Civil Defense men urging them to perform their duty to protect the neighboring houses, which were under the threat of catching fire,” Al-Sawat said adding that the prince was constantly following up the updates on the fires and checking on the safety of the citizens.

Al-Sawat in turn, thanked citizens and residents of the Mandaq governorate for the support and help they extended to the members of the Civil Defense.

“Fire incidents in the farms and forests of the area have increased of late and lead to the destruction of the nature, especially, vegetation,” Al-Sawat said. He appealed to the citizens and residents to be extremely careful and to report those who tamper with the national wealth.

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