As temperatures continue to surge across Punjab, the province has seen a spike in forest fire incidents. However, timely intervention by the Punjab Forest Department’s Fire Emergency Response System has successfully mitigated potential damage to critical forest areas.
According to a department spokesperson, three separate fire outbreaks were reported on June 10 in the forested regions of Murree and Attock.
- The first fire occurred at 7:00 PM in Compartment 85 of the Sumbli Forest (Murree).
- The second was reported at 9:00 PM in Compartment 20 of the Kotli Forest (Murree).
- A third blaze broke out at 2:00 AM in Compartment 15 of the Attock Khurd Forest.
Trained forest staff swiftly responded to each incident, efficiently containing the fires before they could escalate. In total, the affected area comprised around 3.5 acres of underbrush and grassland, with no loss of life or significant property damage reported.
Authorities cautioned that the risk of forest fires remains elevated during the ongoing heatwave. Citizens are urged to avoid activities such as lighting fires or smoking near forested areas to help prevent future incidents.
Earlier, fires were also reported in the Karor Forest of Kotli Sattian and the communal forests of Lehtarar. Both blazes were quickly brought under control by firefighting teams, with minimal vegetation damage and no reported casualties or financial losses.
The Forest Department remains on high alert and has reinforced its readiness to respond to any emergencies. Acting on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, a comprehensive strategy is being rolled out to minimize fire risks and safeguard the province’s forest ecosystems.
Last month, a fire broke out in the Muhammad Khan Forest, damaging between seven to ten acres, primarily destroying wild vegetation and nearly 50 mature trees. The forest, spanning 181 acres, is located in Kathri within the jurisdiction of the Hatri police station.
District Forest Officer Rizwan Memon confirmed that while there was no threat to nearby residents or property, the full extent of the damage remains under assessment. Due to extreme heat and still-hot terrain, inspection teams were unable to access the burned areas immediately.
