Forest fire in Solan brought under control after 6-hour operation

Shimla: A major fire broke out in the Mandodhar forest area along the Dharampur–Mangoti Mor road in Solan district during the early hours of Wednesday, highlighting the growing risk of wildfires amid rising temperatures in the lower hills and plains of Himachal Pradesh.According to Parwanoo fire officer Anil Kumar, the fire department received information about the blaze through a telephone call around 3.30 am. A team of three firefighters was immediately dispatched to the spot with a fire tender. By the time the team arrived, the fire had already spread across a large stretch of the forest, making firefighting operations challenging, he said.The firefighters battled the flames for nearly six hours before successfully bringing the situation under control. No loss of life or damage to property was reported. However, a significant forest area, including several pine trees, was affected, said Kumar.Forest fires are a recurring concern in and around Kasauli during the summer months, largely due to the accumulation of dry pine needles, which contain resin and are highly inflammable, he added.According to official data, Himachal Pradesh recorded 441 forest fire incidents this summer till Wednesday, affecting nearly 4,996 hectares of forest land. The highest number of 141 fire incidents was recorded in Mandi forest circle, followed by 113 in Dharamshala, 57 in Nahan, 41 in Chamba, 34 in Hamirpur, 14 in Shimla, and 13 each in Bilaspur and Solan circles.MSID:: 131637536 413 |