From July to September 2025, I followed and photographed the wildfires that hit the coastal hills around Latakia and the farmlands in Hama.
My photo series mixes shots from the air with ones taken on the ground to capture how the fires changed everything, the land and people's way of life.
You see things like huge smoke plumes that blot out the coastline, firefighters rigging up hoses on those steep slopes, and even roadside vendors keeping their spots going right next to the burned areas.
The fires wiped out big chunks of forests and fields, forcing whole communities to leave their homes.
A lot of farmers lost their trees and other crops, leaving them with no way to make a living. That's clear in the last photos, where you see guys standing over what's left of their orchards—just a bunch of charred stumps.
Then, in late September, new flare-ups showed how unpredictable the whole season was, especially with the strong winds and leftover war debris making things even tougher in the burned-out spots.
Flames devour the hillside
A drone view shows a wildfire in Latakia countryside
Smoke over the village
A general view shows smoke rising as wildfires burn through forested areas in Latakia countryside
Fire truck in the ash field
A Syrian Civil Defense member also known as the White Helmets walks past a burnt fire truck after wildfires swept through forested areas
Battle on the fireline
Members of the Syrian Civil Defence known as the White Helmets work to extinguish a wildfire burning through a forested area
Human chain against the blaze
The Syrian Civil Defense also known as the White Helmets work to extinguish a wildfire in Latakia countryside
Running with the hose
A member of the Syrian Civil Defence known as the White Helmets works to extinguish a wildfire burning through a forested area in Latakia countryside
Escape through the smoke
A volunteer runs through smoke from a wildfire in Latakia countryside
Witness to ash
A resident stands near smoke and flames from a wildfire in Hama countryside
Holding ground as flames advance
Members of the Syrian Civil Defence known as the White Helmets work to extinguish a wildfire burning through a forested area in Latakia countryside
Commerce at the fire’s edge
A street vendor rests outside his mobile store as wildfires are seen in the background in Latakia
Blackened ridges
A drone view shows scorched hillsides and damaged buildings following massive wildfires in Latakia countryside
Only ashes are left
Farmers stand on the roof of a house while behind them fields and trees were burnt during wildfires in Hama countryside