‘Electric spark’: Forest fire put out after two days

BAHAWALPUR:

A fire at the Ladam Sar forest near Laal Sohanra National Park was put out on Wednesday.

Fire fighters said that Wednesday’s rain helped the extinguishing operation.

The fire had started on Tuesday.

Forest Department workers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the fire appeared to have been started intentionally to obscure theft of timber.

Forest Department workers said there had been an increase in wood theft complaints in the forest over the last few months.

District Forest Officer Muhammad Shiraz denied the rumours.

He said the fire had been started by a spark in electricity wires passing through the forest.

District Coordination Officer Sajid Zafar visited the scene shortly after the fire was put out.

He said the Multan Electric Power Company had been directed to check the electricity wires in the park and install new ones where needed.

He said the losses had yet to be quantified.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2013.