A field exercise in combating forest fires in Chrea, Blida Province, in addition to the inauguration of the new main headquarters of the Civil Protection Unit in Medea Province.
As part of the implementation of the national strategy for the prevention and control of forest fires, and to enhance the readiness of the various agencies and resources deployed to address this threat, the Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Mr. Saïd Saïoud, accompanied by the Director General of Civil Protection, Colonel Boualem Boughlaf, is undertaking a working visit to the provinces of Blida and Médéa.
The Minister will begin his visit in the province of Blida, where he will oversee a large-scale field exercise focused on combating forest fires in the Oued El Krach area of Chréa, in the presence of local authorities and representatives of various relevant sectors and agencies.
On this occasion, a detailed presentation will be given on the 2026 forest fire prevention and control plan, which includes the various preventive, organizational, and operational measures designed to combat forest fires and mitigate their effects, as well as a review of the human and material resources allocated for this purpose. This field exercise is being organized as part of efforts to strengthen the national system for forest fire prevention and control. It involves a wide range of ground and air intervention resources, including 220 personnel of various ranks, 42 fire trucks of different sizes, two helicopters from the Civil Protection Air Group, and eight water-bombing aircraft. Of these, six were leased by the General Directorate of Civil Protection from Tassili Air Services and two large BE200 aircraft from the People’s National Army.
The scenario simulates a large-scale forest fire, requiring the immediate mobilization of ground resources, particularly intervention and fire trucks, water tankers, mobile columns, and the capabilities of regional support detachments specializing in forest fire fighting. Air resources, including helicopters and water-bombing aircraft of various sizes, are also being deployed.
The maneuver also includes carrying out aerial reconnaissance and surveillance missions, securing residential areas and sites threatened by the spread of fires, as well as extinguishing hotspots and coordinating field intervention operations. This maneuver aims to test the readiness and ability to respond quickly, assess the level of coordination between the various stakeholders and actors in the field of managing major risks, enhance coordination and integration between ground and air assets, test the effectiveness of the chain of command and operations management, including the installation of an air command center to direct air interventions, in addition to applying the new protocol for forest fire interventions, assessing the organization of operations when using a large number of ground and air intervention assets, assessing the coordination between air assets with intervention teams and assessing operational coordination when using air assets of various agencies.
In the second leg of his visit, the Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport traveled to the province of Medea, where, accompanied by the Director General of Civil Protection and the Governor, he inaugurated and named the new headquarters of the Civil Protection Unit after the late Mujahid, Major Lakhdar Bouragaa.
The completion of this new operational facility comes within the framework of supporting and strengthening the network of intervention facilities for Civil Protection, allowing for increased operational coverage across various regions, reduced intervention times, and improved quality of services provided to citizens. It also enhances intervention and response capabilities for various incidents and disasters, particularly those related to natural and technological hazards.
This achievement will also contribute to providing suitable working conditions for personnel and staff, and bolstering logistical and operational capabilities, thus ensuring more effective and efficient performance in carrying out the tasks entrusted to the Civil Protection service. This reinforcement of intervention capabilities and the completion of new operational facilities come within the framework of the ongoing effort to modernize and develop the Civil Protection apparatus, in accordance with a vision based on enhancing operational readiness, improving services for citizens, and developing response capabilities and field coordination. This ensures an efficient and effective response to various risks and disasters, and contributes to strengthening the security and protection system for citizens and property.
The General Directorate of Civil Protection also emphasizes that combating forest fires remains a shared national responsibility that requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders. It urges citizens to adhere to preventive measures, to immediately report any fire or behavior that could cause one, and to contribute to the success of efforts to protect forest resources, property, and lives.