Forest fire breaks out in Chowan Keller, teams rush to control blaze

Srinagar, Dec 01: A forest fire broke out on Monday in the Chowan area of Keller belt in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, triggering an immediate response from the Forest Department, police, and Fire and Emergency Services to contain the blaze and prevent its spread to nearby forest compartments and inhabited areas.

Officials said the fire erupted in a forested patch under the jurisdiction of Forest Division Shopian during the daytime hours, with flames quickly spreading through dry undergrowth and fallen leaves. Upon receiving information, teams from the Forest Department rushed to the site and initiated firefighting measures with the support of personnel from Fire and Emergency Services and local police.

An official of the Forest Department said that employees of the department were on the ground attempting to douse the flames and create fire lines to restrict the movement of the fire. Police teams were also deployed in the area to assist in managing movement and ensuring safety during the operation.

Fire and Emergency Services pressed into service equipment and water carriers to help in containing the fire, while field staff continued to monitor wind conditions that could potentially accelerate the spread of flames. As of the time of filing this report, efforts were underway to bring the situation under control.

Authorities have appealed to locals to avoid venturing into forest areas during the firefighting operation and also urged people to refrain from lighting fires in or around forest zones, especially during dry weather conditions.[KNT]