Vulnerability, Mitigation and Precaution to Prevent Forest Fires

Vulnerability: Forest fires are more prone to break out in the western Himalayas than in the eastern Himalayas. Because of the high rainfall density in the Eastern Himalayan woods, they grow. Forest fires have increased as the area covered by chirr (pine) forests has increased in various places of the Himalayas.

Preparedness and Mitigation Measures: 

There are usually forest fires during the dry season, and they can be avoided if proper precautions are taken. During the succeeding Five-Year Plans, funds were committed to combat forest fires. Forest litter was removed from forest boundaries during British time to prevent fire from spreading from compartment to compartment. This was called the “Forest Fire Line”. As a general rule, a fire will spread only if ample fuel (dried vegetation) is available to fuel it. Creating a firebreak in the form of small ditches or clearings in forests are some of the best ways to prevent forest fires from spreading.

In order to prevent fires, the following measures should be taken:

• Fire sources should be kept away from combustibles and inflammable.
• Fire sources should be monitored and controlled.
• Inflammable or combustible products should not be stacked up needlessly and should be stored in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe storage.
• We should implement safe practices in areas that are near forests, such as factories, coal mines, oil storage tanks, chemical plants, and even in the kitchens of our homes.
• Techniques and equipment for firefighting and fire suppression should be included.