Warmer, drier winter spurs fire risks

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 24: As predicted earlier by the meteorologists, this year’s winter has been warmer and drier. This has thus increased the chances of forest fires this season. 

Experts have also warned that the consecutive dry winters could deplete water sources, reduce agricultural production, and increase the risk of pollution and wildfires.  

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology record, as of January 23 this year, only 5.3 mm of rainfall has been recorded, just nine per cent of the average winter rainfall. During the winter season, the country normally receives up to 60 mm of rainfall. 

Last year (2024) witnessed the driest winter in 30 years. This year’s winter (2025) is also notably dry, with most areas experiencing 60 per cent more dryness than usual, according to meteorologist Dr. Binod Pokhrel. 

Winter season normally begins from November 30 to the last week of February in Nepal. According to Dr. Pokhrel, winters in 2021, 2024, and 2025 have been exceptionally dry. The winter of 2023 was also dry but comparatively less than other years, he said. 

In Nepal, winter precipitation largely depends on the influence of westerly winds and low-atmospheric pressure systems. However, this year, these systems have been exceptionally weak, resulting in precipitation being limited to the western hilly region, said Dr. Pokhrel.

According to meteorologists, winter is naturally a season with less rainfall, but this year has been particularly dry. Meteorologist Pokhrel described this winter as "dry," comparing it to the past two years, which also experienced similar dryness. Due to the reduced precipitation, the winter has also been relatively mild.

Meanwhile, a NASA Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) satellite image on January 23 showed at least 93 fires burning across the country, even in the western mountains which have seen snow and brief rain in the past few weeks. 

22 die in six months 

According to data presented by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) during a meeting of the Agriculture, Cooperative, and Natural Resources Committee under the House of Representatives on Wednesday, 22 persons lost their lives due to fire incidents in the first six months of the current fiscal.

Joint Secretary Tok Raj Pandey speaking at the meeting briefed the committee meeting that there have been 1,442 fire incidents, resulting in 22 fatalities as of January 21. According to him, out of those who lost their lives, six were men and 16 were women. He said that during the same period, 1,656 families were affected by fire incidents.

Joint Secretary Pandey said that fires caused partial damage to 88 houses and destroyed 228 houses completely, resulting in a financial loss of Rs. 672.61 million.

He also shared that in the three months starting from mid-February, 2024 to mid-May 2024, 56 people died due to fires and 17 due to forest fires.

During the same period, 179 persons were injured in fire incidents, and 26 were injured in forest fires. Pandey said that in these three months, the total financial loss due to fires and forest fires amounted to Rs. 1.237 billion. He said that forest fires in Nepal are often caused by human negligence or sometimes by intentionally. 

Joint Secretary Pandey said that the local and federal governments are regularly conducting public awareness and educational programmes through district disaster management committees. He said that local administrations have been instructed to take necessary steps to reduce fire-related disasters.

Pandey said that training is being provided to security personnel and forest workers for fire control, and security forces are being mobilised to prevent and control fires.

District officials have been directed to create and implement action plans for controlling fires and forest fires at the district level.

In the first six months since the start of fiscal year 2024/25 (mid-July 2024), 1,656 families were affected by fires. Among these, 88 families faced partial damage, while 228 families suffered total losses.