Fire burns 90 palm trees in Numaniyah orchards before being contained

WASIT — Civil defense teams in Numaniyah, west of Wasit governorate, extinguished a large fire Tuesday that swept through two orchards in the Al-Sukhriyah area, burning approximately 90 palm trees and several citrus trees. No injuries were reported.

A security source told 964media the fire caused moderate material damage and threatened nearby groves. “The fire affected two groves and a drilling machine in the Al-Sukhriyah area of Numaniyah district. It caused moderate material damage, burning around 90 palm trees and a smaller number of citrus trees. Two additional orchards were nearly reached by the fire, but civil defense teams managed to stop the spread,” the source said.

The fire broke out in a densely cultivated area known for its citrus and date palms. “As soon as the orchard owner reported the fire, three firefighting vehicles and several water tankers from civil defense and other state departments rushed to the scene,” the source added.

Teams were able to contain the fire before it spread further, though the effort was complicated by the density of the groves. Forensic investigators are expected to begin work to determine the cause.