Latakia Governor Khaled Abaza acknowledged the relentless efforts by the teams from the Fire Brigade, Civil Defence, Fire Department and the Syrian Arab Army, as they try to control the huge inferno raging in the rural areas of al-Badrousiyah and al-Mishrifa.

They have so far managed to prevent the fire from spreading to the forests on the other side of the highway, greatly reducing the risk of escalation, the senior official said.

Abaza said the firefighters also stopped the fire that threatened houses in al-Badrousiyah, y went on to admit the great hurdles hindering the extinction, especially the current dry conditions and strong winds that push flames from one place to another.

The four injured, including two firefighters and two civilians suffering allergies from smoke inhalation, have been treated by the Red Crescent emergency medical teams and the provincial health department at the scene.

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