Deadly Wildfires in Jijel, Why Water Bombing Planes Could Not Intervene

Algeria is mourning after a series of devastating wildfires caused numerous deaths and injuries, with Jijel emerging as one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster. The fires, which intensified dramatically over two days, destroyed large areas of forest and threatened communities located in mountainous and heavily wooded regions.

The fires were particularly severe on Wednesday and Thursday, when powerful winds, reportedly reaching between 80 and 100 km/h, helped the flames spread rapidly across difficult terrain. The combination of strong winds, dense vegetation and mountainous landscapes created extremely challenging conditions for emergency crews attempting to contain the fires.

Jijel, one of Algeria’s most heavily forested wilayas, was among the areas most seriously affected. Several villages and communities located in or around forested mountain areas were exposed to the advancing flames, while firefighters and other emergency personnel worked continuously to prevent the fires from causing further destruction.

The human toll has been particularly heavy in the municipality of Djemaa Beni Habibi, where local authorities recorded numerous deaths. Several victims were buried on Friday, August 28, during a ceremony attended by Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb.

A number of people were also injured in the fires. Some victims suffered serious burns and required evacuation to the Zeralda Hospital for Major Burns near Algiers, where they could receive specialized medical treatment.

Why were firefighting aircraft unable to intervene?

The absence of water-bombing aircraft during the most critical phase of the fires raised questions among members of the public, particularly as Algeria has access to aerial firefighting resources.

Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb addressed the issue during his visit to the affected areas on Friday. After flying over the regions devastated by the fires, he explained that the weather conditions had made it impossible to safely operate the aircraft during the previous two days.

“Unfortunately, the weather conditions were difficult yesterday and the day before. Winds of 80 to 100 km/h prevented the use of aircraft,” Ghrieb told journalists after visiting Jijel.

According to the prime minister, the situation subsequently improved enough to allow aerial firefighting operations to begin.

“Today, we were able to intervene with these aircraft and the situation has stabilized,” he added.

The explanation highlights one of the major challenges faced by firefighting authorities during extreme wildfire events: aircraft cannot necessarily be deployed simply because a fire is spreading rapidly. Strong and unpredictable winds can make aerial operations extremely difficult and potentially dangerous, particularly when aircraft must operate at low altitude over mountainous or forested terrain.

During the worst phase of the fires, ground crews therefore had to confront the flames under exceptionally difficult circumstances.

Firefighters, soldiers and volunteers mobilized

Firefighters were supported by members of the Algerian People's National Army, the gendarmerie and police, as well as civilian volunteers. Together, they worked to contain the fires and protect residents in threatened communities.

The difficult terrain in Jijel further complicated the response. The wilaya is known for its extensive forested areas and mountainous landscape, conditions that can make access to fire fronts particularly challenging.

Strong winds added another layer of complexity. When winds reach speeds of 80 to 100 km/h, fire behavior can become considerably more difficult to predict, while flames and embers can spread rapidly and create new fire fronts away from the original blaze.

The aerial response therefore depended heavily on weather conditions improving enough to permit aircraft operations.

Prime minister surveys the damage

On Friday, Sifi Ghrieb flew over several areas affected by the wildfires to assess the scale of the destruction. From the air, the prime minister was able to observe the impact on villages located in mountainous areas as well as communities surrounded by forests.

The visit came as Algeria continued to deal with the consequences of the fires, including fatalities, serious injuries and damage to forested areas.

Ghrieb also praised the solidarity shown by Algerians during the disaster, highlighting the efforts of emergency personnel and volunteers who participated in the response.

The fires have once again demonstrated how quickly extreme weather conditions can transform forest fires into major disasters, particularly in regions where forests, mountains and residential areas exist in close proximity.

For communities in Jijel and other affected wilayas, the immediate priority remains supporting victims, treating those injured and securing areas affected by the fires. The authorities' ability to deploy aerial firefighting resources once weather conditions improved also became an important element of the response.

The deadly wildfires in Jijel have left communities mourning and raised renewed questions about Algeria's capacity to respond to increasingly dangerous wildfire conditions. While aerial firefighting aircraft can provide crucial support, their deployment ultimately depends on operational and meteorological conditions. In this case, according to Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, winds reaching up to 100 km/h made their use impossible during the most critical period of the disaster.

As Algeria assesses the human and environmental consequences of the fires, the tragedy underscores the importance of rapid evacuation, coordinated emergency response and the ability to adapt firefighting strategies to rapidly changing weather conditions.