In a proactive move to prevent forest fires, the Pune division of the forest department is set to implement a series of measures by February 15, maintaining them until the onset of the monsoon season. The decision stems from a historical increase in forest fires during this period, prompting the department to enhance response times and mitigate potential risks.
The forest department plans to establish 24 camps across the division’s 12 ranges, each equipped with a four-person team comprising two experienced fire-fighting volunteers, a forest guard, and a ground officer. Additionally, 200 forest observers will be strategically positioned throughout the division to enhance vigilance.
A senior official from the Pune Forest Department emphasized the need for additional personnel, citing the dangerous and specialized nature of firefighting in forested areas. Teams of ten individuals will be dispatched to locations based on the identified fire outbreak sites.
Another official highlighted the department’s data-driven approach, utilizing a decade’s worth of incident and frequency data to optimize the preventive strategy. Camps will be strategically located near sensitive areas to minimize response times.
The department is currently finalizing the creation of firelines in regions prone to frequent fires. These firelines, with widths of 6 meters, 9 meters, and 12 meters, aim to halt the spread of fire by burning grass when it reaches a significant height. The prescribed burning is conducted within the designated fireline widths.
In addition to on-the-ground efforts, the forest department employs a satellite-based system to detect forest fires promptly, ensuring swift communication across all jurisdictions.
To address one of the root causes, farmers have been receiving notices since December, urging them to refrain from burning stubble or sugarcane on their properties during this period. The forest department aims to raise awareness among farmers about the associated risks and discourage practices that may contribute to extensive forest fires.
Senior forest officials acknowledged the traditional practice of burning field grass and stumps by farmers in March or April to encourage early growth but emphasized the need to balance these practices to prevent inadvertent forest fires.
