Firefighting continues in Jabal Shams as wildfire reignites

MUSCAT: Firefighting operations are continuing in Jabal Shams after a wildfire reignited at another location and spread across a wider area on Monday evening, the Environment Authority said.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 6, the authority said a preliminary assessment indicated that a lightning strike was the likely cause, with no indications of human involvement.

The fire occurred within the Al Hajar West Starlight Reserve. Specialised teams responded promptly to the initial report, contained the blaze and extinguished the remaining hotspots.

However, the fire reignited at another location on Monday evening, prompting Royal Oman Police Aviation to begin firefighting operations. These remain ongoing, with the participation and monitoring of the Environment Authority’s field teams.

The authority is coordinating with the Royal Oman Police and the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority to monitor the situation.

Once the fire has been extinguished, the authority will conduct a comprehensive survey to ensure no active hotspots remain, assess environmental impacts and take measures to protect the site and its vegetation.