Extinguishing the Dekwaneh Fire... and Civil Defense Continues Cooling Operations

The Media and Public Relations Department of the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced, in a statement, "that Civil Defense elements managed to control the large fire that broke out in the 'Ogero' warehouses in the Dekwaneh area – Metn District, yesterday afternoon, Tuesday. After controlling the fire, which took more than five hours, Lebanese Civil Defense elements continued cooling operations throughout last night, and operations are still ongoing until now, as specialized teams work to open corridors within the fire zone and cool the remaining residues and flammable materials, to ensure that the flames do not reignite. The smoke rising from the site is due to the ongoing cooling operations."

During the operations, eight elements sustained various injuries, six of whom received the necessary treatment and left the hospital, while two injured individuals are still receiving treatment, and their condition has been described as stable.

The fire consumed large quantities of electrical cables and wires, telephone cables, and plastic materials, leading to thick smoke and an expansion of the fire zone.

The General Directorate of Lebanese Civil Defense mobilized its human and logistical capabilities to confront the fire, as 65 teams affiliated with the Lebanese Civil Defense participated in the operations, brought in from various Lebanese regions, supported by about 500 elements from firefighting, ambulance, and rescue specialties, in addition to 98 specialized vehicles and equipment.

Operations continued continuously, as field teams worked to contain the flames, isolate flammable materials, and remove burning materials, in parallel with opening corridors within the fire zone to reach hot spots, residues, and flammable materials, which prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring sites.

The Central Operations Room of the General Directorate of Lebanese Civil Defense also worked to monitor the course of the fire around the clock, and continuously coordinate with field teams deployed on the ground, which contributed to good management of operations and directing resources according to intervention requirements.

The Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmad Al-Hajjar, followed the progress of firefighting and cooling operations through direct calls with the Director General of Lebanese Civil Defense, Brigadier General Imad Khraish, to stay informed on developments in the field situation.

Brigadier General Imad Khraish followed the operations in the field throughout the intervention period until the fire was controlled, and thanked all the elements participating in the firefighting and cooling operations, praising the great efforts they made and the dedication they showed throughout the intervention period.

He also thanked the Lebanese Army Command for its support via military helicopters, the Beirut Fire Brigade, the Dekwaneh Municipality, the municipalities and citizens who contributed to securing water, the media, and everyone who contributed to supporting and ensuring the success of the firefighting efforts.