Wildfire Map Spotlight: Hyrcanian Forest Fire, Iran

What is the name and location of the wildfire?

As of November 26, 2025, the Hyrcanian Forest Fire had scorched areas within the ancient Hyrcanian Forests in northern Iran, primarily in Mazandaran Province near Chalous’s Elit/Elite forest area. The blaze threatened part of the UNESCO-listed forest belt along the southern Caspian Sea coast (1).

Which cities or areas are affected by the Hyrcanian Forest Fire?

The wildfire impacted multiple natural areas in northern Iran, including:

Hyrcanian Forests (UNESCO site)
Elit/Elite Forest area, Chalous
Mazandaran Province
Forested slopes near Jolfa (new secondary fire)

These regions included critical habitats for endangered species and ecologically sensitive landscapes (2).

What is the current containment status of the Hyrcanian Forest Fire?

By November 25, 2025, Iranian authorities confirmed the fire was fully contained after a prolonged firefighting effort involving both ground crews and aerial support. Officials reported that many of the isolated smouldering spots had been extinguished and the main blaze quelled (3).

Are there any evacuation orders or alerts in place?

There were no formal large-scale evacuation orders reported, since the fire mainly affected remote forest zones rather than populated areas. At the height of the blaze, Iran requested international assistance, including water-bomber planes from foreign partners, to support containment efforts (4).

Did the wildfire affect air quality?

Smoke generated during the Hyrcanian Forest Fire significantly reduced air quality across parts of northern Iran. Authorities warned that poor air-quality conditions may persist for several days, influenced by wind patterns and any remaining smouldering within the forest.

Air quality map of northern Iran as of November 26, 2025. Source IQAir.