In pictures: Syria's White Helmets tackle raging infernos

Raging fires that began last week near several villages under Syrian government control in Lattakia and Hama governates have now reached the forested hills of Jisr al-Shughour, an opposition-held city in Idlib.

The Syrian Civil Defence, also known as the White Helmets, sent in reinforcements to contain the infernos, as fears grew that they could reach civilian areas. 

The teams worked at great risk through the night in areas next to government-held territory to bring the fires under control.

The fires in ​​Jisr al-Shughour are estimated to have consumed more than 1,000 hectares of forest. (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)

Animals as well as large expanses of vegetation have been among the victims of the fires. (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)

While extinguishing the fires, the White Helmets had to be careful to avoid unexploded bombs and possible fire from Syrian government forces. (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)

The White Helmets were also required to work on the dangerously high cliffs and steep slopes that the fires were able to reach. (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)

It took four consecutive days of work for the White Helmets to bring the fire under control. (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)

The ruggedness of the terrain and the lack of roads in the dense forest presented challenges for fire-trucks. (MEE/Ali Haj Suleiman)

Hani Effendi, one of the White Helmets, said: "The most difficult thing about this was that we had to work at night until the fire stopped spreading, in an area that was in front of where regime forces were based, forcing us to turn off our lights in case we were bombed by them."