More Incidents Of Wildfire In Odisha Likely This Year, Says PCCF

Bhubaneswar: In view of the prevalent weather conditions, Odisha is likely to witness more incidents of wildfire during summer this year.

This was stated by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Debidutta Biswal while speaking to media persons on Monday. “Already the incidents of wildfire have been reported from around 200 places in the state since January. If the state does not receive rainfall in next two months, the situation may worsen,” he said.

Stating that the dry conditions were conducive to spread of wildfire, particularly on dry ground of the forest areas during autumn and fall, Biswal said it can be contained by a few spells of rainfall.

However, the PCCF said they were ready to combat the wildfire and minimise the losses. “We have drawn up a plan with involvement of officials of the Fire and Forest departments and local administration. Necessary equipment and personnel have been kept ready for any major incident,” he added.

In the latest case, panic gripped the people of a village in Dhenkanal district as fire from a nearby forest spread to their farmland on last Saturday. The fire started from the reserve forest at Anantpur under Kamakshyanagar Western range in the district. After turning the forest floor and many trees into ashes, the fire spread to the farmland of Kanpura and Ektali villages near the forest.