Forest fires continue to threaten landscape

Human negligence, insufficient firefighting arrangements have propelled fire breakout incidents during summers

LAHORE:

Where soaring temperatures have complicated the survival of people across the country, nature too appears to be suffering the disastrous repercussions of the heat as frequent fire breakouts in forests reduce towering trees to mere ash.   

According to Irfan Ali Kathia, Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) forests cover an approximate area of 1,44,000 acres in Punjab. “In summers, when the temperature rises, even a small spark can start a fire. The stones lying inside the forests gain so much heat sometimes that they can also start a fire. Similarly, lightning strikes can also cause fire breakouts. Apart from this human negligence is also to blame. Some people throw burning cigarettes while wandering and traveling in forest areas or during live cooking. Such activities can also trigger forest fires,” said Kathia.  

As per data received by the Express Tribune from the Punjab Forest Department around 60 incidents of forest fires have been reported thus far from May 2024 to mid-June, while a total of 326 incidents of fire breakouts damaging more than 9,233 acres of land were reported in the forests of Punjab during the past four years, with the majority affecting hill stations like Murree, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Khushab, Sargodha, Mianwali and Bhakkar alongside plateau areas like Lahore and Kasur in Central Punjab.

“There are two types of forest fires; crown fires and ground fires. Crown fires, which spread quickly, occur at the top of the trees, causing serious damage. On the other hand, ground fires start with leaves lying on the ground. Although ground fires do not cause much damage to the forests, they can kill wildlife animals,” explained Saqib Mehmood, Chief Conservator North Zone of the Punjab Forest Department.

“70 per cent of fires in the plains are caused by human negligence. Forests in the plains are divided into block systems to create buffer zones. For this reason, fire incidents are less common in plateau areas since if a fire does occur, it is controlled quickly. But it is not possible to create a buffer zone in the forests of hilly areas therefore, fire causes more damage there. The leaves and barks of the pine trees found in the mountain forests naturally contain a flammable compound. The government should buy dried leaves and bark from the local people and make fuel from it. This will provide employment to the local people as well as help clean up the forests,” opined Pakistan Wildlife Foundation’s Vice Chairman, Safwan Shahab Ahmed.

Additionally, according to an investigation by the Express Tribune, the Forest Department’s personnel have no training in firefighting apart from having no fire-fighting paraphernalia, like uniforms and equipment to douse forest fires immediately.

Speaking to the Express Tribune on the matter, sources from the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab assured that they will support the Forest Department by providing uniforms for forest fire fighters, fire rakes, water bowsers and mountain bikes.