Forest fire prevention works underway in Coimbatore Forest Division

Forest Department staff create fire lines in fire-prone areas to prevent forest fires, engaging tribal communities for employment.

With the summer approaching, the Forest Department staff are at work creating fire lines, especially in areas known to be prone to forest fires.

District Fire Officer N. Jayaraj said fire line work is currently underway in all seven forest ranges and it will be completed soon.

Out of the seven forest ranges in the division, Madukkarai, Boluvampatti, Coimbatore, Periyanaickenpalayam and Karamadai have the majority fire prone areas. Mettupalayam and Sirumugai forest ranges have the least fire prone areas, he said.

Fire lines are narrow strips of open land that prevent the spreading of fire. These strips are created by clearing vegetation, grasses, dry leaves, etc., manually. Controlled burning of dry leaves and grasses is also done to create the fire lines.

A Forest Range Officer said members of tribal communities living in and around the forests were mostly engaged in fire line works, which offer them employment.

In April 2023, a forest fire in Bolampatti block II reserve forest of the Madukkarai forest range lasted for over a week, affecting around 200 hectares. Following the incident, the Forest Department established the District Forest Fire Control Centre for the Coimbatore division on the premises of the DFO’s office.

According to Mr. Jayaraj, the District Forest Fire Control Centre has an elite force and is equipped with various firefighting equipment. The elite force members are trained in firefighting. In addition to the elite force, the Rapid Response Team of the Department and frontline staff are trained to respond immediately in the event of a forest fire.