Prolonged dry days increasing risk of forest fires

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 20: With the onset of the dry season, Nepal is facing an increased risk of forest fires. The dry conditions have led to several incidents of forest fires across the country, posing a threat to wildlife and communities. 

As of Friday, until 7 pm, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) reported a total of 131 incidents of forest fires within the last 24 hours in 28 districts.

An elderly man from Taruliya in Lamahi Municipality of Dang district passed away due to a fire that ignited at a cowshed near his residence on Thursday.

Bir Bahadur Bote, aged 87, lost his life in the blaze, which was triggered by children playing in the cowshed.

As the fire extended from the field to the house, Bote became trapped inside while attempting to retrieve money stored within. 

He succumbed to the flames, said Janak Bahadur Malla, the spokesperson for the District Police Office and Deputy Superintendent of Police.

According to Malla, the fire that spread from the field destroyed two houses and a cowshed, resulting in damages worth over Rs. 200,000. Locals said that if the fire brigade had not arrived on time, the damage could have been much worse.

Similarly, on April 15, a house in Devikot Chowk of Rapti Rural Municipality-9 was damaged by a fire. The fire, which originated from a forest near the settlement, engulfed the house of Thamman Gharti. 

According to the police, livestock were also affected by the fire, and damages amounted to around Rs. 200,000. Locals managed to bring the fire under control before it spread to other houses.

These recent incidents of fire in the two places of Dang are just examples. As the heat rises, the occurrences of fires in the Tarai district are escalating. During the dry season, human negligence, coupled with a scarcity of firefighting resources, often exacerbates the damages incurred and these fires not only result in significant human casualties but also lead to substantial financial losses.

As incidents of wildfires continue to rise in forested areas, there is an increasing risk of fires occurring in homes located near the forests, Malla said. 

He underscored that despite the heightened likelihood of wildfires during dry seasons, authorities' failure to exercise caution could lead to recurring incidents. Since April 2023 until now, the district has witnessed five fatalities due to fires, according to the District Disaster Management Centre. 

According to Shambhu Acharya of the centre, nine individuals have been injured due to fires, while 131 houses, cowsheds, and shops have incurred damages. He further said that with the onset of dry season, the frequency of fire incidents has increased significantly.