Recent forest and house fires continue to devastate various districts across Nepal. These fires have caused significant damage to property, displaced communities, and strained local resources.
Original article written by: Madhav Aryal & Durgalal KC
There has been no respite from the recent fires wreaking havoc across Nepal. On Sunday, a forest fire in Hadbas settlement, Rajapur Rural Municipality in Dang district, reduced 24 houses and 10 sheds to ashes. The fire started around 3 PM and only spared the tin-roofed house of Man Bahadur Giri. Despite villagers' efforts, the forest fire could not be contained, according to local resident Bhim Oli.
Massive fires are also raging across several hectares of forest land in Palpa, a hill district in Lumbini Province. The fire that began three days ago in the northern slopes of Shreenagar hill in Tansen remains uncontrolled. The Division Forest Office in Palpa reports ongoing wildfires in Tallo Shreenagar, Ukalepipal, and Shreenagar Paryaparyatan community forests, among other locations. The fires have already burned around 2,368 hectares of forest in 95 different places this year, according to Samyog Basnet, information officer at the Division Forest Office.
In Kanchanpur district of Sudurpaschim Province, wildfires continue to rage in the northern parts of Brahmadev, Bedkot, and Krishnapur municipalities. The fires have affected around 300 forest areas and are spreading to the border areas of Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts. Shivaraj Awasthi, the information officer at the Division Forest Office in Kanchanpur, stated that the fires in remote areas are difficult to reach and control.
In addition to forest fires, house fires have caused significant destruction. In Dhankuta, three separate fire incidents on Saturday led to property damage worth millions of rupees. A fire originating from the house of Mira Karki in Pakhribas Municipality destroyed the house, an eatery, and a shop. Another fire from Badhare Community Forest nearly destroyed half the forest and threatened human settlements. It took more than two hours for soldiers and police to bring the fire under control.
Similarly, a fire in Janga Community Forest in Chaubise Rural Municipality damaged 180 meters of pipelines for the Namkha River drinking water and irrigation project, leaving several settlements without clean drinking water. The ongoing fires across Nepal highlight the urgent need for effective fire management and prevention strategies. Awareness and proactive measures are essential to mitigate the devastating impacts on communities, forests, and wildlife.