TWO fires raging in southern Ethiopia for 17 days have destroyed up to 30000 hectares of forest, as well as killing animals and burning homes. The blazes are still far from under control, according to Ethiopia’s deputy agriculture minister, Belay Ijigu, who has appealed for international aid to fight the fire. He said that the Ethiopian government did not have the resources to mount the necessary “aircraft-based extinguishing operations, together with the necessary chemicals and technical (human) support.” A two-year lack of rain has left parts of Ethiopia vulnerable to fire, and television reports showed flames burning out of control.