Iranian officials said on Saturday that the massive wildfire burning for a week in the Hyrcanian forest in northern Mazandaran Province was most likely caused by human activity, as authorities investigate suspected attempts to clear forest land for real estate projects.
Reza Aflatouni, head of Iran’s Forests Organization, said initial findings “strongly suggest a human cause.” “Expert teams are in the area, and evidence points to deliberate or negligent action,” he told state media. “We are also examining possible connections between the fire and efforts to rezone forest and farmland for private construction.”
Mazandaran Governor Mehdi Younesi-Rostami also said security assessments confirm that the fire in the Elit area was caused by human activity.
The investigation follows mounting controversy in Mazandaran Province, where environmental experts have accused local officials and developers of converting protected farmland and forest edges into villa plots.
The blaze, centered in the Elit region near the town of Chalous, has spread through steep, densely wooded terrain and is being driven by high winds and dry conditions. Firefighting officials said eight helicopters from the Defense Ministry, police and Red Crescent are operating in the area, along with two Ilyushin aircraft from the Revolutionary Guards, each capable of carrying 40,000 liters of water per flight.
Turkey to send aircraft as Iran weighs Russian help
Two Turkish firefighting planes, a helicopter and eight personnel are expected to arrive on Saturday to support local crews, and officials said Iran may request additional assistance from Russia if needed. “If necessary, we will request cooperation from the Russian government to help contain the Elit forest fires,” Environment chief Shina Ansari said.
Authorities said the difficult terrain has slowed efforts to create firebreaks and reach isolated hot spots. Ansari warned that “the risk of fire spread remains high” and that teams have been working around the clock to prevent the blaze from reaching nearby villages.
The Hyrcanian forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site along Iran’s Caspian coast, is one of the world’s oldest temperate rainforests and home to thousands of plant and animal species, including endangered Persian leopards and brown bears.
Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, called the Elit blaze “heartbreaking,” saying Iranians are “losing a natural heritage older than Persian civilization.”
Officials said the full extent of the damage and the cause of the fire will be announced after investigations conclude.
