Up in smoke: Wildfire destroys forestland in Ghazi

Flames not controlled even after 24-hours of fire fighting.

HARIPUR:

A vast area under forestland was destroyed when a wildfire broke out in the hilly area of Kohe Gandgar, Tehsil Ghazi, on Monday evening.

Even after 24 hours of fire fighting, the forest authorities, in the absence of proper fire extinguishing equipment, could not control the flames till the filing of this report.

According to the police and locals, the fire broke out near Bandi Syedan village, Khairbara union council, and engulfed a vast area. Hundreds of conifer and fuel wood tree species like Phulahi, sanatha and others were burnt, while several jackals, foxes, pigs and birds of different species were also killed.

According to some villagers, the fire also destroyed properties and houses of nearby villagers, while the smoke billowing from the gutted areas is threatening the environment.

“It is the timber mafia that destroy precious forestland in connivance with forest officials to justify illegal tree felling,” said Kala Khan, a resident of Bandi Syedan. He said that setting forests in Ghazi Tehsil on fire is a common phenomenon that occurs every year.

“What a pity that the forest department which collects millions annually in the shape of fines from the timber smugglers could not make arrangement for putting out the fire,” said another villager, Gulfam Khan.

When approached for comments, the cell phone of District Forest Officer Sher Hasan was turned off; however, another official of the forest department, Abdul Rasheed, said that the fire destroyed hundreds of mature and young trees of different species. Rasheed said that as he has not personally visited the area he cannot accurately estimate the loss. He concurred that wildfires are common in the area but his department is ill-equipped and lacks resources to control them.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2012.