Preparedness Key To Fighting Wild Fires

Forest fires are a common occurrence even in winter in numerous countries worldwide despite a growing use of firefighting technology. A long spell of drought and subsequent rising temperatures, and carelessness on the part of people and authorities are responsible for the eruption of bushfires. They are unrestrained fires that burn in forests, grasslands, and other ecosystems. They can cause widespread destructions as they are not limited to any specific continent or environment. Such disasters can burn in vegetation available and above the soil. As ground fires burn in soil rich in organic matter, they can keep igniting for a whole season. And surface fires burn in dead and dry vegetation lying above the ground. Generally, dry grass and fallen leaves trigger surface fires.  

Risk

Forested areas and many human settlements in Nepal are at high risk forest fires. The country records a lot of incidents of fire and bushfire every year, mostly in winter and spring. These disasters take a toll on the lives of people and public and private properties across the nation annually in the absence of adequate public awareness and preparedness. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) has lately alerted people against increased chances of forest fires this year considering rising temperatures and low winter rainfall. 

Records maintained by NDRRMA show that the country has witnessed more than 1,440 fire incidents this winter alone. Almost two dozen people have lost their lives to infernos while as many as 1,656 households have remained affected in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Fires destroyed a total of 228 houses while they caused partial damage to 88 houses. The damages have resulted in a financial loss of Rs. 672.61 million. In Nepal, the period between the end of November and the last week of February is considered as the winter season. 

In the three months commencing from mid-February last year, as many as 56 people died in fire incidents and about one and a half dozen persons lost their lives to forest fires. Similarly, a total of 179 persons got wounded in fire incidents while the number of people injured in wildfires stood at 26. The total financial loss incurred due to fires and forest fires amounted to Rs. 1.237 billion during the three months. 

Normally, this season (winter) remains dry thereby creating a favourable condition for wildfires to spread. With global warming, winter has also been warmer as compared to the past. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) has already hinted at possibilities of more bushfires across the country in the remaining days of this winter as the season has been drier and warmer. According to DHM reports, just 5.3 millimetres of rainfall have been recorded in the country as of January 23 this year. This rainfall accounts only for nine per cent of the average winter rainfall. The average rainfall the nation records in winter is as much as 60 millimetres. 

It needs no mention that winter rains in Nepal are mostly caused by the impact of westerly winds and low-atmospheric pressure systems. Meteorologists say these systems have remained unusually weak this winter. The winter in 2024 remained the driest one in the country in the last three decades or so. It is also markedly dry because most areas in the country have experienced 60 per cent more dryness than normal. Rains have been limited only to the western hilly region. Even the mountain region has not recorded any heavy snowfall this winter. Because of this, people have not felt lasting biting cold this winter. 

The winter season in 2021 was also very dry. More inferno-related incidents were reported in the country in drier and warmer winters. Meteorologists say that successive dry winters might lead to the depletion of water sources, increase the risk of forest fires and air pollution. Besides, the lessening of water sources naturally leads to the reduction in agricultural production. However, in Nepal, the winter season records less rainfall as compared to other seasons.

As temperatures in most parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley, have already started going up, a number of fire incidents have been recorded in some areas. A couple of days ago, a wildfire that broke out in the Chisapani Community Forest within the Mahabharat mountain range in Kavrepalanchowk district spread to three more community forests. The uncontrolled wildfire has caused damaged to some parts of Khanikhola and Bethanchok Rural Municipalities of the district. With a view to protecting adjacent settlements, a helicopter was mobilised. The chopper dropped water in vulnerable areas to put out the wildfire. It lifted water from a local reservoir in buckets and spread the water over the fast-moving blazes. However, several areas were still at risk as the helicopter could not extinguish the fire completely. 

A recent NASA Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) satellite image indicated more than 90 fires burning throughout the country. The number of such incidents is anticipated to keep increasing with every passing day in view of dryness and gradual rise in temperatures.  

Measures

It is commendable that the federal and local governments carry out public awareness and education programmes on a regular basis through district disaster management committees. Fire safety trainings are also conducted for security personnel and forest workers so as to enable them to contain unpredictable fires. Security forces are mobilised to prevent and control fires. But these initiatives alone are not sufficient to deal with fire-related hazards. Much focus should be laid on preparedness to tackle such disasters. The local administrations must remain vigilant and prepared to prevent and deal with these disasters in a more efficient manner. They must keep firefighting equipment and trained personnel on standby to douse fires. Since there is a tendency among some troublemakers to set forests and other assents on fire, measures must be taken to bring them to justice. 

(The author is a former deputy executive editor of this daily.)