May 3rd 2024.
Rourkela, a district in Sundargarh, has been fortunate to have had the cooperation and assistance of locals in controlling forest fires, according to officials who spoke on Thursday. One of the largest ranges in this district is the Bonai forest, where a fire had recently broken out. However, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the officials and locals, the flames were finally brought under control on Wednesday.
Speaking about the challenges faced in controlling the fire, Lalit Patra, the district forest officer of Bonai range, explained that the steep gradient of the area made it difficult to contain the fire. However, with the combined efforts of the staff and locals, they were able to successfully tackle the situation. Currently, there are 459 fire points in Sundargarh district, with most of them located in the Hemgiri forest range.
Patra further shared that the locals have been instrumental in keeping the situation under control. They are quick to inform the Forest department when they spot flames and have even helped in extinguishing the fires before the officials could reach the spot. Pradip Mirase, the DFO of Sundargarh division, also highlighted how the time taken to tackle forest fires has reduced significantly, thanks to the efforts put in by the team. He mentioned that this year, it took them only five hours to bring the fires under control, compared to the 10-12 hours it used to take in the past.
One of the key factors in controlling the fires has been the regular patrolling done by volunteers and Forest department officials, especially in the early morning hours. This has helped in identifying and containing the fires before they spread. Mirase also shared an instance where their patrolling team, along with the help of locals and satellite imagery, were able to locate and extinguish a large fire near the Chhattisgarh border.
The availability of equipment such as blowers has also aided in controlling the fires effectively. Furthermore, the construction of water bodies for animals has played a major role in preventing large fire incidents. Mirase and Patra mentioned that there are over 50 water bodies spread across the forests, ensuring that there is enough water to tackle and douse the flames.
Overall, the combined efforts of the officials, locals, and advanced resources have resulted in successful management of forest fires in Sundargarh district. The cooperation and assistance of the community have been crucial in keeping the situation under control and preventing any major damage to the forests and wildlife.
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