Mitigation strategies to prevent forest fires being implemented in Nilgiris forest division
The Hindu
Nilgiris forest division prepares for fire season with mitigation measures, personnel deployment, fire-lines, and collaboration with district administration.
The Nilgiris forest division is preparing for the upcoming fire season in the district with a variety of mitigation factors being planned and undertaken.
Forest Department officials from the division said that they expected that there could be an increase in forest fires in the coming weeks and months due to the heavy ground frost that occurred in December of 2024 and January of 2025, leading to a lot of forest undergrowth becoming dry and prone to fire.
Officials said that five forest department personnel have been posted in each of the 12 forest ranges in the division – Kundha, Korakundha, Udhagai North and South, Parsons Valley, Coonoor, Kotagiri, Kattabettu, Pykara and Naduvattam. The 60 dedicated forest staff, including temporary fire watchers, have been deputed to quickly detect any cases of forest fire and ensure that they are controlled before they spread.
The division is also creating over 100 km of fire-lines within the division, that will provide a break between forest canopies to ensure that fires can be controlled within isolated areas and prevented from spreading between forest patches. A control room has also been set up to monitor forest fires and ensure timely response towards fighting blazes across the division.
Moreover, action is also to be undertaken against grazers and farmers who were found to be starting fires on purpose within and close to forest areas to facilitate growth of fodder for their cattle. The department is also to seek the assistance of the Fire and Rescue Services in order to get more manpower and equipment that will help them fight fires more effectively.
A joint meeting with the Nilgiris district administration is also to be held to discuss measures that can be taken to help mitigate the risk of forest fires in 2025, the officials added.
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