Massive fires burn Islamabad’s Margalla Hills for three days as temperatures soar into 40 degrees
Forest fires that broke out in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills on Wednesday is still raging and could not be doused until Friday evening.
Nearly 70 firefighters of Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), as well as 150 members of other authorities, have been struggling to extinguish the fire raging in Islamabad’s Margalla Hills.
Army Aviation and PAF helicopters also joined the firefighting operations on Thursday and Friday and at least 41 sorties carrying Bambi Buckets flown over Bari area affected by fire behind Bari Imam, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Fires initially broke out at two points – behind Saidpur Village and Daman-e-Koh picnic point. But it quickly spread to nearby areas of Saidpur Zone and Shahdra Zone.
“Fire broke out on two points. Our efforts are underway to put out the flames, but strong winds have been creating problems for us,” said Deputy Director Akhtar Rasool.
Disturbing scenes from Margalla Hills Islamabad where the fire has been raging for three days. CDA, IWMB firefighting operations were joined by Pakistan Army to extinguish the massive fire which has killed many animals and trees. 😣
Let’s save Margalla Hills before it’s too late pic.twitter.com/cMaRJJyUwU— Islamabad Scene (@IslamabadScene) June 1, 2018
High temperatures above 40 degree Celsius, low humidity and inaccessible areas of the hills created difficult conditions on the fire ground, CDA official said.
“At least 12 guards of IWMB are also taking part in the firefighting operation. Our teams are making all-out efforts to extinguish the blazes” Uzma Saeed, Manager Operations at IWMB, told Islamabad Scene.
“Firefighters are steadily in dousing the fire even in scorching heat as they are also fasting in the month of Ramadan,” she said.
As the fire is raging, the firefighters put their lives at risk as they go into the blazing areas without any proper firefighting gear such as gloves or masks or oxygen breathing apparatus. This is why several firefighters suffered injuries and burns and had difficulty in breathing because of smoke inhalation and flame. They use traditional methods of putting out the fires such as beating the fire and cutting tools to stop the spread of fire.
According to latest reports by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 90 per cent of the fire has been extinguished by Friday night (June 1).
Around 90% of fire at Margalla Hills in #Islamabad reportedly extinguished on 3rd day. CDA and IWMB firefighters were joined by Army Aviation and PAF helicopters. 41 sorties carrying Bambi Buckets flown over affected areas.
Video: @PDCMDOfficialpic.twitter.com/ipRZBh993W— Islamabad Scene (@IslamabadScene) June 1, 2018
IWMB offical believes that the recent fire is a continuation of the major May 23 fire on the hills. “Since May 23 fire incidents have been continuously reported in several areas of the park and now it has gone out of control.”
CDA hires as many as 400 locals every year from various villages in the Margalla Hills for firefighting operations during the peak season (April 15 to July 15) but this year, locals have not yet been hired. In many cases, the officials claimed, those who could not get these jobs deliberately ignite fires in the forest so that they may get work to extinguish it.
Residents of Islamabad are pleading on social media and roads to save the precious Margalla Hills National Park which spreads over 12,605 hectares and is home to exotic flora and fauna including animals such as barking deer, wild boars, Asiatic leopard, red fox, leopard and jackals.
Unfortunately, Margalla Hills is facing a serious threat from woodcutting, forest fires, illegal urban encroachments and wildlife poaching in recent years.