Coimbatore : After a few days of continuous burning, the forest fire that looked threatening in three ranges of the Coimbatore forest division have been successfully dozed out by forest staff and volunteers.
Coimbatore : After a few days of continuous burning, the forest fire that looked threatening in three ranges of the Coimbatore forest division have been successfully dozed out by forest staff and volunteers.
The ranges of Coimbatore, Madukkarai and Boluvampatti that are prone to catch fire saw minor forest fires in seven different places including Maruthamalai, Thuvaipathi and Anaikatti and most of it have spread from the nearby State of Kerala.
“Five fires have spread from their and I have written a letter to the District Forest Officer of Mannarkad Division to look over the issue. The remaining two fires – one in Maruthamalai and another one near Kovaipudhur – spread from patta land and were caused by miscreants,” District Forest Officer D. Venkatesh told the Simplicity.
While the fires have been dozed out by the field staff of forest department and general public, the department is planning to clear the forest boundary in the fringes and the interstate boundary to avoid the spreading of forest fire in the coming years.
“We have identified key areas from where fire has spread. A six km stretch has been marked in the Tamil Nadu Kerala border and it will be cleared of bushes during the fire season. The forest fringe near patta land would also see a similar action,” he said.
He further added that the three ranges have been advised to use the necessary man power and appoint paid fire watchers in these ranges for one month.
“These ranges are prone to catch fire in the months of February, March and April. We have been successful in controlling the forest fire from becoming a major disaster. If more fire fighters are appointed, it would be even easier for us,” he said.
Denying claims that wild animals would have died in the forest fire, the DFO explained that animals and birds would always move to a safer distance during forest fires. “The kinds we see in India are surface forest fires, where only the grass is affected. Even the trees would start sprouting soon after a mild drizzle,” he added.
However, Venkatesh said that people should worry about the carbon emission that is caused by the forest fire, which would increase global warming adding that forest fires contributed to 15 to 20 per cent of carbon emission globally.
“People should not think that a small fire inside the forest would not affect them. It would have direct and indirect impacts on our lives. Hence, we ask the public to inform us if they find any miscreants trying to burn the dried grass near forested landscape,” he informed.
Meanwhile, a Coimbatore based activist has petitioned the DFO to make necessary precautions for pilgrims at Vellingiri hills during the 3rd and 4th of March.
In his petition, the activist L. Siva, has requested the forest department to take stringent precautionary measures to avoid forest fire especially during the days.