Uttarakhand has witnessed a dramatic and alarming surge in forest fire alerts, marking the highest December tally in three years, according to the latest data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI).
Sharp Rise in Fire Alerts Points to Dry Spell
The state received a staggering 1,153 fire alerts in December 2025, a figure that starkly contrasts with the 386 alerts recorded in December 2024. This number is also significantly higher than the 773 alerts in December 2023 and 626 in December 2022. The trend has continued into the new year, with 148 alerts reported in the first week of January 2026, compared to none in the same period last year.
Forest officials have pinpointed two primary causes for this worrying spike. The first is an unusually dry December in 2025, which created ideal conditions for fires to ignite and spread. The second major contributor is the practice of stubble burning on agricultural lands adjacent to forests, with flames often jumping onto protected forest land.
Verified Incidents and Departmental Response
The state forest department, which verifies every FSI alert with ground checks, provided a detailed breakdown. Since the onset of the winter wildfire season in November 2025, Uttarakhand has logged 1,374 alerts in total. Upon verification, 86 were confirmed as actual fire incidents, while 183 were related to controlled burning or fire drills. A significant portion, 591 alerts, originated from non-forest areas, and 514 were classified as false alarms.
Departmental records show that, under its direct jurisdiction, 27 fire incidents have occurred since November 1, 2025. Of these, 13 were in the Garhwal region and 14 in wildlife forest areas, affecting approximately 13 hectares of forest land.
Proactive Measures for a Vulnerable Summer
In anticipation of a potentially harsh and dry summer, the Uttarakhand forest department has already initiated comprehensive preparatory measures. Sushant Patnaik, the Chief Conservator of Forests and the state's nodal officer for forest fires, outlined the action plan.
"We are carrying out controlled burning and forest cleaning, strengthening village-level forest fire safety committees and conducting exposure visits, training and capacity-building programmes for stakeholders ahead of the fire season," Patnaik stated.
He emphasized that resource mobilisation is underway. "At the divisional level, we are ensuring readiness of the entire machinery involved in fire management and control. This includes mobilising manpower, fire control tools, equipment and personal protective gear," he explained. Patnaik added that while a longer dry spell is expected, making some areas more vulnerable, field staff are proactively implementing preventive and precautionary measures to mitigate the risk.
