Scorched earth: Of the heat, by the heat, Margallas catch fire

Large portion of hills affected, dryness cited as cause.

ISLAMABAD:

A fire erupted on the Margalla Hills near Ratta Hoter on Tuesday, gutting a huge stretch of forested area and threatening the settlements on the foothills.

Fortunately, the fire, which broke out around 2:30pm, was extinguished by 6:30pm. “Our firefighters reached the site quickly after receiving information.

More than 30 firefighters and around 250 forest officials took part in the operation,” Municipal Administration Deputy Director General Mansoor Ahmad Khan told The Express Tribune.

He said the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, however, “on the basis of preliminary findings it appears to be heat and dryness”.

When asked about the size of the area gutted, Khan said it was spread over many acres but he refrained from giving an unscientific estimate of the area.

The fire gutted flora-- large and small-- and also affected different species of mammals, birds and reptiles that call the hills home, Capital Development Authority (CDA) Public Relations Director Ramzan Sajid said. He added that the CDA has been pursuing a comprehensive strategy to fight hill fires under which the area had been divided into four ranges where fire check posts had been established.

He said forest personnel monitor the area round-the-clock to stave off any fires. Under the strategy, the Environment Wing had been tasked with ensuring the protection and preservation of wildlife in case of fires on the hills. It also aims to protect the environment and expand the green cover by taking all possible precautionary measures.

When asked about any permanent solution to reduce the occurrences of such incidents, he said it was almost impossible for the CDA to keep a constant check on the 12,605 hectares that make up the National Park Area.

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