July 18, 2013

TRIPOLI, Lebanon: High temperatures and strong winds Wednesday resulted in several fires, threatening motorists along the Tripoli highway and residential neighborhoods in Qalmoun.

A huge fire erupted in the reed groves in the Bahsas area near the Olympic Stadium, and spread to the international highway between Koura and Tripoli.

Security forces warned motorists heading to Tripoli and Beirut to be cautious along the road while the Civil Defense, Army and firefighters managed to contain the blaze four hours later.

The fire damaged 10 hectares of groves. Another fire erupted in the Qalmoun village of Falhat, destroying 30 hectares of forest land and olive trees.

Locals helped the Civil Defense and the Army to put out the flames and prevent the fire from spreading.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on July 18, 2013, on page 3.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2013/Jul-18/224095-high-temperatures-spark-fires-along-tripoli-highway.ashx#ixzz2ZWuQz36C
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)