Forest fire
ground fire of an unusual kind burnt to ashes full grown grass and small plants in over 1,000 hectares (ha) of the 20,000-ha Gautala Wildlife Sanctuary in Aurangabad's Kannad tehsil of Maharashtra. The fire ravaged the park for two days before it was brought under control. However, no loss of human or animal life was reported.
According to deputy conservator of forest (wildlife), Arvind Apte, a preliminary survey showed that 1,000 ha of the forest had been engulfed by the fire in the areas adjacent to Tapovan, Hiwarkheda and Garada villages. Forest officials say wildlife has been spared mainly because the animals move to watering holes and other cool places. They added that the wide road that divided the sanctuary also helped contain the blaze.
Forest officials say there is reason to believe that the fire was sparked by natural causes. The blaze spread rapidly owing to the thick carpet of full grown, dry grass in the sanctuary. Fallen teak leaves fuelled the flames. Further, the wind blowing across the hillocks helped spread the fire, said Apte.
Related Content
- Roadmap for wildfire resilience: solutions for a paradigm shift
- The role of wood residues in the transition to sustainable bioenergy
- Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding safety measures to be followed at power plants, 18/01/2023
- Mainstreaming biodiversity in forestry
- Habitat use of tigers and leopards, and habitat connectivity in the Bandhavgarh-Sanjay Corridor
- The health & economic impacts of ambient air quality in Malaysia