Forest Division Office in Banke Forms Fire Control Squads Amid Rising Wildfire Risks

Nepalgunj. A 'Fire Control Squad' has been formed in Banke to control forest fires. The District Forest Division Office has established a 24-member squad in the district.

According to Tank Gurung, Senior Forest Officer and Information Officer at the Forest Division Office, the squad was formed after identifying areas prone to forest fires. He informed that a fire control squad of 12 members was formed for the Shamshergunj area and another 12 members for the Bhuvarbhavani Chakla Forest under the Sikta Sub-Division Forest Office.

Information Officer Gurung mentioned that fire control programs have been initiated in coordination with the Federation of Community Forestry Users' Nepal, including public awareness campaigns. He also stated that a fire engine with a capacity of 6,000 liters of water is kept on standby. "We are ready to control forest fires based on the resources and means available to us," he said.

Gurung noted that after a fire breaks out, the squad will carry out fire control and rescue operations. Although no major fires occurred in Banke last year, a large number of wildlife perished in fires the year before.

Shankar Prasad Gupta, Chief of the District Forest Division Office, informed that 'Fire Control Guards' have been appointed for four years to control forest fires, and they will work systematically to prevent fires. He mentioned that there are six Fire Control Guards each under the forest jurisdiction of the Shamshergunj Sub-Division Forest Office and the Sikta Sub-Division Forest Office.

The chief Fire Control Guards are responsible for clearing and maintaining fire lines, the squad informed. According to him, the district currently has 100 kilometers of fire lines, which have been extended to 120 kilometers. He also mentioned that an 'Over Water Tank' with a capacity of 20,000 liters, constructed at a cost of NPR 2.5 million in Shamshergunj, is expected to play an effective role in fire control.

Response Plan to Mitigate Wildfire Risks

A response plan has been approved in Banke to mitigate the risks associated with hot winds (Loo), fire incidents, storms, and forest fires that occur as the summer season begins. A meeting chaired by Dil Kumar Tamang, Chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee Banke and Chief District Officer, decided to further enhance preparedness to prevent and mitigate potential damage from fire, forest fires, hot winds (Loo), and storms.

The meeting reviewed the implementation status of previous decisions and agreed to move forward with a clear action plan for risk management in the coming days. The meeting held a detailed discussion on the Forest Fire Preparedness and Response Plan 2082 prepared by the District Emergency Operation Center regarding fire, hot winds (Loo), and forest fires.

Given the increased risk of fire and forest fire incidents as the heat intensifies, the Division Forest Office has been directed to prepare and implement a separate action plan for fire prevention. The meeting also decided to conduct awareness campaigns for forest fire control and coordinate with the District Emergency Operation Center for necessary equipment management.