Rain helps douse forest fires in Kangra

Forest fires in Kangra district and other lower hills of Himachal Pradesh have been brought under control following light to heavy rainfall over the past two days. The rain in the mid and lower hills played a crucial role in extinguishing the flames. Earlier, the state forest department had deployed around 100 teams of volunteers and self-help groups in Kangra district alone to tackle the fires.

A senior official from the Forest Department confirmed that the fires in Kangra district were completely doused as of yesterday and assured that there is no need for panic. These were mainly ground fires affecting the pine forests of the low hills. The recent fires were triggered by a prolonged dry spell and a sudden rise in temperatures, conditions that commonly lead to forest fires in the region during summer.

The affected districts included Kangra, Solan, Nahan, Bilaspur, Hamirpur and Una. Although the state has around 1,250 sq km of pine forest cover, the ground fires this season impacted approximately 3,000 hectares or 30 sq km.

The forest official said the pine forests in the lower hills are especially vulnerable to fire due to the presence of dry pine needles and cones. These can easily catch fire from sparks, often caused by careless acts like discarding burning cigarette butts. In some cases, flaming pine cones roll downhill, acting like fireballs and spreading the blaze rapidly.

The forest department has involved local residents in collecting pine needles, which are highly combustible. These needles are bought by industrial units for use in factories, providing an incentive for locals to participate. Most of the fires, the officer noted, are man-made, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and awareness.

In response, the department has launched a state-wide awareness campaign to educate the public and encourage cooperation in fire prevention. Over the past two weeks, Himachal Pradesh has recorded over 600 forest fire cases, affecting more than 3,000 hectares of forest and causing significant financial damage. The combined efforts of the forest teams, local communities, and recent rains have helped bring the situation under control.

Himachal Tribune