Tackling forest fires is a tough job, say experts

By Nayak Paudel

Kathmandu, Apr. 24: The data provided by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) showed that a total of 2,713 forest fires were recorded from 73 districts in between November and March of the last fiscal year 2021/22.

Comparing the numbers with the previous fiscal years showed that Nepal recorded only 234 fewer cases of forest fires in 2021/22 than earlier five fiscal years combined.

The forest fire data of NDRRMA shows 188 incidents were recorded from 40 districts in 2019/20, 829 from 63 districts in 2018/19, 617 from 64 districts in 2017/18, 324 from 52 districts in 2016/17, and 989 from 67 districts in 2015/16.

“Many cases of forest fires are being reported from across the country on a daily basis recently as it is a peak season,” said Dijan Bhattarai, spokesperson for NDRRMA.

Until Friday afternoon, BIPAD Portal, a government website which is regularly updated with disaster incidents across the country, shows that 391 cases of forest fires were recorded across the country in the past one month period.

“Hundreds of hectares of forests are destroyed by forest fires annually. It also has effects on climate, wildlife and human health. Since several human settlements are near the forests, wildfire poses greater risks in Nepali communities,” said Bhattarai, who is also a government under-secretary.

According to our Baitadi correspondent Gokarna Dayal, fire has been recorded in more than a dozen forests at Patan Municipality and Sigas Rural Municipality of Baitadi district in the past one week. 

“Fire in four community forests of Sigas has not been controlled yet. The wildfire has not only destroyed vegetation but drinking water pipes as well. There is smoke all over the village and no drinking water,” said Narendra Bahadur Air, a local.

Our Tansen correspondent Rekhiram Rana also reported that cases of wildfire had been common in Tanahun district as well. “Around 15 hectares of forest in Bandevi and more than 10 hectares in Poshpakha Community Forest in Tansen have been destroyed by forest fires in the past week. Forest fire is also being recorded in Rambha and Purbakhola area in the district,” said Upendra Aryal, forest fire focal person at Palpa Division Forest Office. 

However, it is not only the forests wildfires destroy. In several cases over the years, forest fires have reached human settlements and caused extensive damage.

On last Sunday, a forest fire was reported in Thule Besi Community Forest at Ward No. 3, in Aathrai Rural Municipality, Tehrathum district.

The fire expanded and destroyed an organic agricultural farm at the rural municipality, killing six livestock and inflicting a damage of over Rs. 500,000. A team from Aathrai Area Police Office and locals had extinguished the fire.

In another similar incident at Tehrathum on Sunday, the fire from Madhu Community Forest in Chhathar Rural Municipality had expanded and destroyed two houses.

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Likewise, on the same day, a fire which started from the Berebadhare Community Forest in Ward No. 4 of Ram Prasad Rai Rural Municipality of Bhojpur district had reached human settlements and destroyed two houses and three sheds. 

“Forest fires are difficult to be put out due to which stakeholders have focused on preventing the wildfire from reaching human settlements. However, since it is a windy season as well, it has been challenging,” said Bhattarai.

Nevertheless, local levels and stakeholders across the country lack basic equipment to tackle fire incidents in city and village areas, let alone forest fires.

The NDRRMA data shows that there are only around 200 fire engines across the country with 753 local levels. 

According to experts, there are three conditions – fuel, oxygen and a heat source – for a wildfire, whether natural or man-made, to burn. Depriving any of the three conditions can be helpful in preventing and extinguishing the wildfire, experts suggest. 

“Most cases of wildfires are man-made, but there is a lack of surveillance across the forests. Once a forest fire starts, it is difficult to bring it under control. So, we are working to prevent forest fires rather than dousing them,” said Bhattarai.