As temperatures continue to increase through Punjab, the province has witnessed an increase in forest fire incidents.
However, the rapid and coordinated action of the Punjab Forest Department under its fire emergency response system has helped prevent any significant damage to the valuable forest resources of the province.
According to a spokesman for the forest department, three fire incidents were reported on June 10 in the forests of Murree and Atock.
The first incident occurred at 7:00 pm in compartment 85 of the Sumbli forest (Murree district), the second at 9:00 pm in compartment 20 of the Kotli forest (Murree district), and the third was reported at 2:00 am in compartment 15 of Attock Khurd Forest.
READ MORE: Key forests for food security, environment
The trained field staff of the Forest Department responded quickly and professionally, controlling the three fires before they could extend. The fires affected a total of 3.5 acres of weeds and grass, but no losses of lives or damage to the important property were reported.
The spokesman warned that with the continuous increase in temperatures during the summer, the risk of forest fires remains high. Citizens have been urged to refrain from turning on fires or smoking near wooded areas to avoid such incidents.
The department also reported two outbreaks of previous fires in the Karor forest of Kotli Sattian and the community forests of Lehtarar.
Both fires were controlled in a matter of hours by fire fighting equipment, with minimal damage limited to vegetation in a few acres and without casualties or financial losses.
The forest department maintains a maximum alert state and is fully prepared to respond to any emergency.
READ MORE: Thermal images to help protect forests
The spokesman emphasized that, in the directives of Punjab Prime Minister, Maryam Nawaz, a comprehensive strategy is being implemented to reduce forest fire incidents and protect the natural environment and forest ecosystems of the province.
Last month, a part of the Muhammad Khan forest caught the night, destroying mainly wild plantations, and around 50 ripe trees, in a piece of land between seven to 10 acres. The forest, distributed in 181 land acres, is located in Kathri in the jurisdiction of the Hatri Police Station.
The forest officer of the Rizwan Memon district told Express PAkGazette that fortunately there was no damage to life, or the houses near the forest.
However, he declared that the exact amount of losses has not yet been evaluated, because on Friday the burned parts of the forest could not be visited due to the scorching heat and the newly burned hot terrain.
