More than 250 firefighters battle blaze destroying wildlife in Oman

The cause of the fire that covered Al Hamra mountains has not been determined

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  The fire raged overnight into Thursday. Photo: Oman News Agency

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  Helicopters were deployed to pour water on the blaze. Photo: Oman News Agency

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  Helicopters were deployed to pour water on the blaze. Photo: Oman News Agency

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  Ras Al Harak fire in Oman. Photo: Mohammed Al Azri

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  Ras Al Harak fire in Oman. Photo: Mohammed Al Azri

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  Small fires burned in the brush on the side of Jebel Shams. Photo: Mohammed Al Azri

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  Ras Al Harak fire in Oman. Photo: Mohammed Al Azri

Oman's civil defence team battled a bushfire in the Ras Al Harq area of Oman's Al Hamra mountain region on Wednesday, destroying precious wildlife and greenery.

The fire in Al Dakhliaya region was now 85 per cent under control by Thursday afternoon, the Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority said.

"We controlled the fire about 70 per cent yesterday but because of the poor light in the night, we could not extinguish in some areas where there were thick bushes and trees," a spokesman for the authority told The National.

"This morning, we are continuing and within hours we hope to have the situation in full control."

He said the fire brigade used 25 aircraft and more than 250 personnel to douse the fire.

No one was injured and the police are investigating the cause of the fire, he said.

Witnesses said they saw sparks in the an area of vegetation opposite the town.

"My children saw some sparks up the hill among trees. They ran inside the house to tell us," Saif Al Subhi, 36, a resident of the town of Al Hamra, told The National.

"At first, they were a few trees burning then more trees caught fire and later it was uncontrollable.

"One of my neighbours called the fire brigade and they arrived 15 minutes later."

Other witnesses said the fire brigade found it difficult to contain the fire because it was on a hillside at the foot of Jebel Shams.

“Fire trucks couldn’t climb all the way on the steep hill where the burning trees were," said Khalil Al Rahbi, 43, a resident of Al Hamra.

"Later on, they decided to bring in helicopters to spray water from above. Even then, it took several hours for the fire to stop."

Jebel Shams is the tallest peak in the Arabian peninsula at 3,028 metres.