The Internal Security Forces on Wednesday denied reports claiming that an arson suspect was arrested Tuesday in connection with the massive wildfires that engulfed the country.
“A video showing a municipal policeman beating up a person has been circulated on social media and reports said that the beaten person was setting up fires,” the ISF said in a statement.
“After an investigation was carried out by the Brummana police station, it turned out that Syrian national H.M., who works at a construction site in the Metn town of Baabdat, had burned garbage consisting of nylon bags, paper and carton in the site’s vicinity, after the constriction site’s owner asked him to get rid of the material,” the ISF said in a statement.
“Municipal police arrived on the site and the flames were doused,” the ISF added, noting that “two policemen beat up the worker after he tried to escape.”
“H.M. was arrested for burning trash and entering the country illegally, as the two municipal policemen were released on bail at the request of the competent judicial authorities,” the ISF said.
Wildfires spread through parts of Lebanon on Tuesday after forcing some residents to flee their homes in the middle of the night, while others were stuck inside.
A heat wave in the region coupled with strong winds intensified the fires that began a day earlier in mostly pine forests around the country and three provinces in neighboring Syria. A volunteer firefighter was killed and several people were injured in the fires — among the worst to hit Lebanon in years.
Fire crews were overwhelmed by the flames in the Mount Lebanon region early Tuesday, forcing the Interior Ministry to send riot police with engines equipped with water cannons to help. Two small aircraft were sent from the nearby Mediterranean island of Cyprus to help put out the flames.
The U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL also dispatched crews and firefighting vehicles.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri said if the fires turn out to be intentional those behind it “will pay a price.” President Michel Aoun and Hariri said that an investigation will be opened to know what caused the fires.
Source
Naharnet
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265687-isf-says-beaten-man-in-video-not-involved-in-wildfires
—————————–
Abou Faour Calls for ‘Reforestation’ Plan after Wildfires
by Naharnet Newsdesk Yesterday
Industry Minister Wael Abou Faour on Wednesday stressed the need to kick start a forestation plan in the aftermath of wildfires that spread throughout parts of Lebanon, pointing out that efforts will be joined to compensate for those affected.
At an emergency meeting on wildfires in the Economic and Social Council, Abou Faour said the need calls today for “forestation” to replace burnt trees, pointing out that Prime Minister Saad Hariri confirmed that the state will compensate for those affected.
He pointed out that the main objective of the meeting is to place a mechanism for the contribution of industrialists and traders with municipalities to provide aid for affected towns and areas.
Wildfires that spread across vast areas of Lebanon started to subside Tuesday evening with the fall of rain, amid strenuous efforts by the Civil Defense and firefighters and volunteers from across the country.
Thick smoke had been seen drifting over the outskirts of Beirut, the mountainous Chouf region to its southeast, and the southern city of Saida.
In the Chouf, an area famed for its forests, a volunteer firefighter lost his life trying to put out the flames, his family said.
In an area south of Beirut, firefighters have for two days been unable to stop the blaze, which has burnt four homes to the ground and caused dozens to suffer breathing difficulties, NNA said.
Lebanon has turned to its neighbours for help as Cyprus dispatched assistance and Greece and Jordan followed suit.
Personnel from UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL, who usually patrol the country’s southern border with Israel, have also joined in the efforts, the agency said.
Source
Naharnet
Agence France Presse
Lebanon
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265663-abou-faour-calls-for-reforestation-plan-after-wildfires
———————
Khattar Assures New Blazes Under Control
by Naharnet Newsdesk Yesterday
Comment
1
W460
Civil Defense Director General Raymond Khattar on Wednesday said new “limited” blazes were reported in several Lebanese regions and that efforts are underway to extinguish them.
“In cooperation with the Lebanese army, efforts are underway to extinguish new limited wildfires that erupted in Kfarmata, Daqoun, Kornet al-Hamra, al-Zireh, al-Mtayleb, Baawarta and Mazraat al-Dahr,” said Khattar to LBCI TV station.
He stressed that the situation is under control.
Wildfires that spread across vast areas of Lebanon started to subside Tuesday evening with the fall of rain, amid strenuous efforts by the Civil Defense and firefighters and volunteers from across the country.
By 7:00 pm, blazes were still raging in Chouf’s al-Dibbiyeh and Dmit and Aley’s Kfarmatta as rain contributed to containing the flames in ِAley’s Baawarta and south Lebanon.
A major fire that had been raging since Monday night in the Chouf area of Mechref was put out earlier in the day with the help of UNIFIL forces. UNIFIL peacekeepers, vehicles and firefighting vehicles later moved to Mazraat al-Dahr and al-Dibbiyeh to contribute to firefighting efforts there.
New fires were meanwhile reported in the evening in the northern Metn area of Mazraat Yachouh and the Keserwan area of Ghazir.
The wildfires forced some residents to flee their homes in the middle of the night on Monday, while others were stuck inside as the flames reached villages south of Beirut, especially in the Chouf and Aley regions.
A heat wave in the region coupled with strong winds intensified the fires that began a day earlier in mostly pine forests around the country and three provinces in neighboring Syria. A man died of a heart attack after taking part in the firefighting efforts in Chouf as several injuries were reported.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265660-khattar-assures-new-blazes-under-control
——————————
Chouf and Aley Wildfires Subside with Rain as New Blazes Erupt in Metn, Keserwan
by Naharnet Newsdesk 2 days ago
Comment
3
W460
Wildfires that spread across vast areas of Lebanon started to subside Tuesday evening with the fall of rain, amid strenuous efforts by the Civil Defense and firefighters and volunteers from across the country.
By 7:00 pm, blazes were still raging in Chouf’s al-Dibbiyeh and Dmit and Aley’s Kfarmatta as rain contributed to containing the flames in ِAley’s Baawarta and south Lebanon.
A major fire that had been raging since Monday night in the Chouf area of Mechref was put out earlier in the day with the help of UNIFIL forces. UNIFIL peacekeepers, vehicles and firefighting vehicles later moved to Mazraat al-Dahr and al-Dibbiyeh to contribute to firefighting efforts there.
New fires were meanwhile reported in the evening in the northern Metn area of Mazraat Yachouh and the Keserwan area of Ghazir.
The wildfires forced some residents to flee their homes in the middle of the night on Monday, while others were stuck inside as the flames reached villages south of Beirut, especially in the Chouf and Aley regions.
A heat wave in the region coupled with strong winds intensified the fires that began a day earlier in mostly pine forests around the country and three provinces in neighboring Syria. A man died of a heart attack after taking part in the firefighting efforts in Chouf as several injuries were reported.
Fire crews were overwhelmed by the flames in the Mount Lebanon region early Tuesday, forcing the Interior Ministry to send riot police with engines equipped with water cannons to help. Two small aircraft were sent from the nearby Mediterranean island of Cyprus to help put out the flames.
“Your planes are now fighting fires in Lebanon as we speak here,” Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab said during a visit to Cyprus.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri said if the fires turn out to be intentional those behind it “will pay a price.” Hariri added that an investigation will be opened to know what caused the fires.
In Damour, a coastal village south of Beirut, more than a dozen charred cars were seen on the side of a road. Most of the homes nearby escaped the damage.
The state has been widely criticized by residents because Lebanon bought three aircraft several years ago to be used in extinguishing fires but they have been parked at Beirut’s airport with no money to maintain them.
As the fires raged overnight, al-Jadeed TV correspondent Halima Tabiaa burst into tears while live on TV, saying she could hear people scream for help inside their homes but no one could reach them. The footage has since gone viral on social media and international and Arab media outlets.
Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan said Greece would send two aircraft in response to a request from Lebanon, adding that Jordan has also expressed readiness to send assistance to Beirut.
Authorities meanwhile announced that foreign aircraft and army helicopters are not equipped to take part in firefighting operations at night.
The National News Agency said four advanced aircraft from Greece and Jordan were expected to arrive later on Tuesday.
In neighboring Syria, fires spread in the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus, as well as the central province of Homs, but authorities there brought all the fires under control.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265645-chouf-and-aley-wildfires-subside-with-rain-as-new-blazes-erupt-in-metn-keserwan
————————–
Hariri Chairs Emergency Meeting about Massive Fires
by Naharnet Newsdesk 2 days ago
Prime Ministers Saad Hariri on Tuesday chaired part of the meeting of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority that was held at the Grand Serail to follow up on the ongoing operations to extinguish the massive wildfires that engulfed several Lebanese areas.
Present at the meeting were Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan, the Head of the Authority Zahi Shaheen, the Secretary General of the Higher Defense Council Major-General Mahmoud al-Asmar, Mount Lebanon Governor Mohammed Mekkawi, and representatives of various ministries, departments and security services.
During the meeting, Hariri said: “Unfortunately, we are witnessing frequent fires, this happens all over the world and we are exerting all possible efforts with the operations room and all the relevant bodies, including the army, security forces, civil defense, governors, municipalities, civil defense and the Red Cross to extinguish them as soon as possible.”
“The Minister of Interior and I contacted a number of countries to send additional helicopters and aircrafts to extinguish the fires that have broken out in many Lebanese regions and to combat them and limit their spread. We are exerting great efforts and I thank all those here for everything they are doing. The High Relief Committee will identify the damages in homes and properties. We will work around the clock and do our duty as a state to complete the firefighting process,” Hariri added.
“The most important thing for me is that there are no losses of lives and certainly we will investigate what happened to know how it started. I do not want to accuse anyone, but a clear investigation should be conducted to see if what happened is deliberate. If it is, those who did that should pay the price, and if it is not, it could be due to the climate change that the world is witnessing and that is causing disasters. The most important thing is that there are no human damages. The physical damages can be compensated,” the premier went on to say.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265633-hariri-chairs-emergency-meeting-about-massive-fires
—————————-
Aoun Orders Investigations into ‘Idle’ Rescue Planes as Fires Raze Acres of Land
by Naharnet Newsdesk 2 days ago
Comment
9
W460
Lebanon ordered investigations into the reasons that rendered three firefighting Sikorsky helicopters idle, as the country struggles to extinguish wildfires that burned out of control on Tuesday.
President Michel Aoun demanded investigations into the reasons that left the Sikorsky’s “out of order.” He said parties responsible will be held accountable, the National News Agency reported.
Three firefighting Sikorsky helicopters were donated in 2009 to the Lebanese authorities along with a three-year maintenance grant.
“The problem started three years later when the maintenance grant of about $ 450,000 ended,” said former Interior Minister Ziad Baroud.
All three of these helicopters have been out of service due to a lack of spare parts, according to unnamed sources.
The choppers used 4000 liters of water.
Strong fires spread in different parts of Lebanon forcing some residents to flee their homes in the middle of the night as the flames reached residential areas in villages south of Beirut.
Fire engines were overwhelmed by the flames in the Mount Lebanon region early Tuesday, forcing the Interior Ministry to send riot police engines equipped with water cannons to help.
Two small aircraft were sent from the nearby Mediterranean island of Cyprus and are helping in putting out the fires.
A heat wave hitting the region and strong winds helped intensify the fires in pine forests around Lebanon and three provinces in neighboring Syria.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri said that if the fires turn out to be intentional those behind it “will pay a price.”
Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan said Cyprus and Greece had responded to Lebanon’s call for help.
“Two Cypriot planes have been working to put out the fires since yesterday,” she said on Twitter.
“Greece has responded to our request and will send two planes to help us,” she added, while Jordan also said it was ready to help.
U.N. peacekeeping force UNIFIL, whose members usually patrol the country’s southern border with Israel, has also joined in the efforts.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265626-aoun-orders-investigations-into-idle-rescue-planes-as-fires-raze-acres-of-land
——————-
Mountainous Wildfires Continue into Second Day, PM Assures Help on the Way
by Naharnet Newsdesk 2 days ago
Lebanon continued to put out wildfires on Tuesday, which burned acres of land and destroyed dozens of homes in mountainous areas mainly in the Chouf region amid an unprecedented heatwave.
The National News Agency reported in the afternoon that “the fires in the Mechref area have been extinguished as a convoy of UNIFIL peacekeepers, vehicles and firefighting vehicles moved to Mazraat al-Dahr and al-Dibbiyeh to contribute to fighting the raging fires.”
Firefighters and Civil Defense teams had been tackling several blazes in Mechref since Monday night.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri said foreign assistance was on its way. “We have made contacts with several states to send in helicopters capable of extinguishing the fire shall it renew at night,” he said.
Assistance from Italy and the European Union was expected in four hours, noted Hariri. He asserted that “investigation will be launched to determine the cause of fires.”
Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan earlier announced that aerial assistance from Cyprus to help extinguish wildfires raging since Monday in different mountainous Lebanese regions began early today.
She said air tankers from Cyprus dropped water over fires in Mechref.
“We have set up an operation room at the Grand Serail and another mobile one on the ground in Mechref to keep up with the latest developments,” said Hassan.
The fire started at night in Mechref. It soon extended to the Mount Lebanon towns of Debbiyeh, Baawarta, Damour, Naameh. It scorched wide areas in Lebanon’s western mountains by Tuesday morning.
Fires grew out of control overnight as people were evacuated from their homes.
As the fires raged overnight, al-Jadeed TV correspondent Halima Tabiaa burst into tears while live on TV, saying she could hear people scream for help inside their homes but no one could reach them. The correspondent’s video has since gone viral on social media and foreign media outlets.
In Damour, a coastal village south of Beirut, more than a dozen charred cars were seen on the side of a road. Most of the homes nearby escaped the damage.
On Tuesday, Civil Defense firefighters said the fire was contained in Baawarta, Damour and Naameh.
Civil Defense Director General Raymond Khattar said in remarks to LBCI TV station: “For tens of years Lebanon has not witnessed anything similar.” He did not rule out the possibility of arson.
“Around 200 civil defense fire fighting vehicles have deployed in a bid to extinguish more than 104 fires blazing in different Lebanese areas in the last 24 hours,” he noted, saying five members suffered minor injuries.
Media reports meanwhile announced the death of a man who had taken part in the firefighting efforts in Chouf.
An unusual heatwave and strong winds helped intensify the fires in pine forests around several mountainous regions throwing people out of their homes in the middle of the night.
The National News Agency said another massive fire broke out at dawn in the Metn area of Kornet Hamra-Mazraat Yachouaa-Zikrit. Civil Defense firefighters and army helicopters embarked on dousing the fire, as people were told to evacuate.
Later on Tuesday, more blazes were reported in several areas of northern and southern Lebanon.
The heatwave is expected to subside on Wednesday.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265616-mountainous-wildfires-continue-into-second-day-pm-assures-help-on-the-way
——————
Firefighters Battle Wildfires Raging in Chouf
by Naharnet Newsdesk 3 days ago
A wildfire was raging in the Chouf district of Meshref with reports saying it could engulf nearby houses and educational facilities if not contained.
Civil Defense firefighters and Lebanese army teams battled the large blaze, as the weather recorded above the average temperature level for October.
The fire has reportedly besieged several houses in the town.
The National News Agency said the blaze has spread over thousands of meters connected to a number of residential buildings and to the Rafik Hariri University.
Some said the fire blazed near another educational facility in the area.
Last night, a large fire broke in the outskirts of the town of Saffariya in Jezzine region and in Akkar.
Jezzine fire razed around 11 acres of trees, said NNA.
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/265570-firefighters-battle-wildfires-raging-in-chouf