Forest Division Strengthens Preparedness to Prevent Wildfires in Jharsuguda; 64 Fire Squads Deployed and 24 Hour Control Room Activated
Jharsuguda: In view of rising temperatures and the increased risk of forest fires during the upcoming summer season the Forest Division has undertaken extensive preparedness measures to prevent and control wildfire incidents During a press conference held at the Forest Division office Divisional Forest Officer Manu Ashok Bhatta of the Indian Forest Service outlined various steps taken to strengthen forest protection and fire response systems
Forest fires not only destroy valuable natural resources but also endanger wildlife increase air pollution and pose serious risks to nearby human settlements and officials have urged public cooperation to effectively prevent and control such incidents To minimize fire risks a total of 456 kilometers of fire lines have been created across forest areas under the division and 64 dedicated fire squads have been deployed for rapid response equipped with 91 firefighting tools and 27 new leaf blowers while five vehicles have been assigned to ensure quick mobility and coordination
A 24 hour control room has also been established at the division level to respond to emergencies and citizens can report fire incidents through the helpline number 9861735995 According to the Forest Department analysis major causes of forest fires include burning forest floors to collect mahua flowers burning agricultural residue intentional fires to improve kendu leaf yield and careless disposal of burning beedis cigarettes or matchsticks by passersby Data from the past three years shows that 2025 recorded the highest number of incidents with 152 forest fire points identified
To raise awareness the division has launched an LED equipped mobile awareness vehicle to visit vulnerable villages and awareness programs such as street plays cricket matches and distribution of informational materials are being conducted at the village level Special incentives will be provided to villages and forest protection committees that remain fire free encouraging community participation in forest conservation and officials have appealed to the public to immediately report any signs of forest fire to the department to ensure timely action and safeguard forest ecosystems and nearby communities
