A significant forest fire erupted in the Mandodhar forest area along the Dharampur–Mangoti Mor road in Solan district during the early hours of Wednesday, underscoring the escalating risk of wildfires amid rising temperatures in the lower hills and plains of Himachal Pradesh.
Incident Details
According to Parwanoo fire officer Anil Kumar, the fire department received a telephone call alerting them about the blaze at approximately 3:30 am. A team of three firefighters was immediately dispatched to the location 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 stated.
Firefighting Efforts
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, Kumar added.
Recurring Concern
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 explained.
Statistical Overview
According to official data, Himachal Pradesh recorded 441 forest fire incidents this summer until Wednesday, affecting nearly 4,996 hectares of forest land. The highest number of 141 fire incidents was recorded in the 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.
