With most forest fires usually sparking off around this time of the year, forest and park services department yesterday conducted a two-day awareness campaign to prevent forest fire that has resulted in razing thousands of acres of forest land annually.
About 70 forest fire volunteers, Desuups and forestry personnel participated in the campaign that started from Kuenselphodrang with participants stopping at certain points advising people on the safety measures they need to take to prevent forest fires.
Head of forest fire management program Tandin Dorji said the campaign was held to make people understand on preventing forest fires. “Participants themselves are also made aware while they create awareness,” he said. “It is also an opportunity to inform and encourage more people to join the forest fire volunteers.”
Tandin Dorji said the campaign is also a message to other dzongkhags to initiate similar activities.
A resident at Ramtokto, Ram Bahadur, 69, said it was a good initiative taken by the organisers. “More people can understand better about forest fire and they’ll be more careful now,” he said.
The participants advised people to follow the agriculture debris burning rules, not to throw cigarette buds, not to leave outdoor fire unattended and to call 211 to report any fire.
In the past six years, 44,457.33 acres of land was burnt in about 251 fire incidences. Of this, the cause of fire in about 167 incidences is still unknown.
Burning debris in fields caused 32 fire incidents and burnt about 5221.99 acres of land. Other causes were electric short circuit, infants playing with fire, rolling stones, unattended campfire, arson, construction sites and smoking.
Today, the group will campaign in Hejo, Dechenchholing and Kabisa.
By Sonam Choden
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