The dry winter season has led to an increase in fire incidents across Nepal. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), 15 districts reported fire incidents within the past 24 hours, while forest fires were recorded in three districts.
Forest fires have been reported in Solukhumbu, Bhojpur, and Kavre. In Kavre’s Bethanchok Rural Municipality-3, wildfires in Narayansthan Community Forest, Janajagriti Community Forest, and Ward No. 5’s Chisapani Community Forest are spreading rapidly. However, a wildfire in the Khanikhola area was brought under control with the help of a helicopter.
In Bhojpur Municipality-3, efforts are underway to extinguish a fire in Bhalukhop Community Forest.
Similarly, in Solu Dudhkunda Municipality-4 of Solukhumbu, a forest fire in a private jungle in Surke was contained by municipal police, airport security guards from Phaplu, and local residents.
NDRRMA’s records indicate fire incidents in Bajura, Salyan, Dailekh, Palpa, Rupandehi, Baglung, Kavre, Makwanpur, Parsa, Dhanusha, Siraha, Sunsari, Solukhumbu, Tehrathum, and Morang. Thankfully, no human casualties have been reported.
Forest fires are more frequent during dry and warm seasons, typically occurring from December to mid-June. Fires usually start in December, peak in mid-April, and decline with the onset of the monsoon.
According to forest fire expert and NDRRMA Undersecretary Sundar Prasad Sharma, 74% of forest fires occur between mid-February and mid-April, with 51% concentrated between mid-March and mid-April.
Prolonged dry spells and negligence are primary causes of fire incidents. Nepal experiences an estimated annual average of 3,098 forest fires, which destroy approximately 172,040 hectares of forest. However, government measures to control fire incidents remain ineffective.
This year, predictions of a dry winter and hot pre-monsoon season suggest an increased likelihood of forest fires and fire-related incidents.
