Growing Fire Incidents

Spring has breathed life into the surrounding landscape after the months of harsh dry winter. The people, animals and plants have got energised. The people feel temperate weather, with stronger sunlight and longer days. It has both sunny and rainy days. The green leaves and chirping of birds coupled with the hide and seek game of sun and clouds are a moment of joy for the nature lovers. But the season of rebirth and renewal does not always bring happiness to the people. The spring season that falls between the winter and summer also sees suffering of human beings owing to unanticipated forest fires. Yes, the incidents of fire occur uncontrollably across the country, causing the loss of life of people, property and biodiversity. This is the annual phenomenon that hit the country, thanks to lack of awareness and negligence of people, and apathy of concerned agencies assigned the tasks of handling the natural disasters like fire, floods and landslides.  

This year the number of wildfires is likely to increase by five times due to the prolonged drought in the winter and lower humidity in the environment. According to news report of this daily, around 77 people lose their life in Nepal annually due to fire-related incidents. A study conducted by National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) has disclosed that the fire-induced damage and losses, including the human casualties, have increased by three-fold in the last one decade. A total of 769 people were killed and 2,548 injured in 18,772 fire incidents that took place from 2014 to mid-March 2023. Property worth more than Rs. 22.23 billion was destroyed during the period. However, there is no record of the deaths of wild animals and birds, and burning of plant seeds and flowers.

There are many reasons behind the rising cases of wildfires which pester the people residing near the forestland. A survey conducted last year revealed that about 58 per cent of forest fires occur owing to intentional burning by grazers, poachers, hunters, and non-timber forest product (NTFP) collectors, 22 per cent due to negligence and 20 per cent by accident. More than 80 per cent of forest fires happen in March and April whereas about 60 per cent take place in April alone. Careless disposal of cigarette butts, cremation inside the forest and tendency of picnickers of not putting out flames after leaving the site have also led to the increased number of fire incidents. Livestock owners intentionally burn the scrub, thinking that this will enable the growth of new shoots of grass when there is rain. Likewise, peasants set fire to residual straw after grain harvest while poachers light a fire to clear the vegetation and catch animals. 

Nepal is vulnerable to the impact of climate change and growing fire incidents that can put strain on its adaptation to negative consequences of global warming and efforts to reduce emissions and increase forest cover. The government should provide necessary resources, technology and equipment to the locals who resort to hand-made green-leaves broomsticks to extinguish the forest fire. It has so far carried out structural reforms, transfer of equipment, development of information system, effective communication, and local-level training among volunteers and staff members to fight and mitigate the forest fires. Altogether 21 district administration offices have been provided with a set of fire-fighting equipment, including a portable fire-fighting pump. It requires implementing its policy and strategy effectively for sustainable forest fire management. Law enforcement should be more stringent against those who set forest fires deliberately.