Forest fires

·       Forest fires, also known as wildfires, are unplanned, uncontrolled, and unpredictable fires that occur in areas with combustible vegetation.

·       Natural causes include lightning, high atmospheric temperatures, and low humidity.

·       Man-made causes include agricultural practices like Jhum, sources of fire such as cigarettes or bidis, unattended campfires, burning of waste, and intentional arson.

·       The presence of fuel (dry trees, shrubs, grasses, and litter), oxygen, and a heat source (often referred to as the fire triangle) is necessary for a fire to exist.

·       Dry weather, drought, and dry vegetation provide easy kindling for fires, while strong winds facilitate their spread.

·       Forest fires can be categorized based on their behaviour, including ground fires, surface fires, and crown fires.

Uttarakhand’s susceptibility to forest fires

·       Indian forests are highly vulnerable to fires, with over 54% of the forest cover exposed to occasional fire.

·       Uttarakhand, located in the North-Western Himalayas, is particularly prone to fires due to the prevalence of pine trees, accumulation of flammable litter, and high fire intensity in low altitude regions near villages.

·       Factors such as climate change, changes in land-use patterns, and local community practices contribute to the increased incidence of forest fires in the region.

Methods to tackle forest fires

·       Spreading awareness about fire prevention and safety measures.

·       Controlled or prescribed burning to remove biomass and promote healthy forest growth.

·       Implementing preventive measures such as creating fire-lines or fire-belts, engaging temporary fire watchers, desilting water sources, and having fire safety equipment on hand.

·       Increasing surveillance of forests using drones.

·       Government initiatives such as satellite-based fire alert systems and training forest staff in fire management techniques.