Fire destroys one hectare of forest in Sus village

A fire destroyed about one hectare of forest land in Sus village late Thursday night. The fire started around 10:15 PM in a private area at the bottom of a hill near a resort. It spread quickly, reaching the top before it was put out around 2 AM. Fire brigade and forest personnel worked for nearly three hours to control the blaze. The fire consumed at least seven kilometers of grassland which is home to various wildlife, including peacocks and barking deer. Sagar Hole, a forest guard, said the team acted quickly to stop the fire from entering nearby protected areas. Officials suspect the fire was started intentionally, possibly for land clearing. An investigation is underway, and an offence will be filed under the Indian Forest Act against unknown individuals. The forest department is also raising awareness about the dangers of stubble burning and littering. Two fire extinguishing vans were used to fight the blaze, with twelve fire brigade personnel and seven forest staff members participating. This year has seen an increase in forest fires, with 54 in January, 141 in February, and 128 so far in March. Officials noted that the heat and human negligence contribute to these fires. They highlighted that many occur repeatedly at the same locations. Concerns have been raised about residents throwing garbage on reserve land, which can spark larger fires. A dedicated team for fire management in forests has been requested.