A wildfire that has been raging in the forests of Timang, located in ward 1 of Chame Rural Municipality of Manang since February 1 remains out of control, despite the relentless efforts of the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), forest officials and locals.

Chief District Officer Matrika Acharya stated that while there was a brief period when the fire appeared under control, it has since intensified again. “The wildfire is still raging after 10 days since it started. Security personnel, forest employees, and local volunteers have been working day and night to contain the flames braving smoky conditions and high winds,” he said.

The fire is spreading in the region located at an altitude of about 3,000 meters since the forest floor is dry due to lack of snowfall or rain for a long time. The people’s representatives and the locals are concerned about the increasing risk of it reaching nearby settlements. “The dry land and lack of snow have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire,” said Khadga Bahadur Gurung, the ward 1 chair of Chame Rural Municipality.

The problem is exacerbated by strong winds, especially after 11 am, that fan the flames, causing the fire to spread even faster. According to Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, the chief of ACAP Manang, as the weather cools down in the evening, the flames become less visible, but during the day, the winds reignite the fire. The fire has caused significant damage to trees, shrubs, medicinal plants, and wildlife habitats.

Although satellite imagery earlier indicated that the fire might have affected an area of 80 hectares, the authorities now estimate the fire has ravaged approximately 10 hectares of forest.

“There is no immediate threat to human settlements. But the wildfire may spread in the forest just above Chame, the district headquarters of Manang, through the Syarkyu area. The strong winds are only making the matter worse,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police in Manang Naresh Kumar Singh. According to him, the security personnel and locals have created fire lines in the area to prevent the fire in the tracks.

Wildfire destroys 82 hectares of forest in Sindhupalchok

Wildfires have ravaged around 82 hectares of forest land in Sindhupalchok, particularly in the upper regions of Jugal and Bhotekoshi rural municipalities. The wildfires have been doused now after days of daunting efforts by the security personnel, forest employees and villagers.

According to the District Police Office, the affected areas include forests within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in Bhotekoshi and Tripurasundari, as well as Jugal and Lisankhu Pakhar rural municipalities.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Uma Shankar Yadav said wildfires had severely impacted six forests before being contained by Sunday. The fires ignited simultaneously on Thursday in Jhyangwari forest in ward 2 and Charedanda Mulkharka Community Forest of ward 5 of Lisankhu Pakhar Rural Municipality; and Chandrankhu Sherpa Ghumelan Community Forest in ward 5 of Bhotekoshi Rural Municipality. They were doused on Sunday.

Similarly, a wildfire in Purke Danda forest of Tripurasundari-1, within the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, was extinguished on Saturday with the help of Green Volunteer teams, activist Sharad Prasad Chalise said.

A fire that started in Syangji Community Forest of Jugal-2 on Thursday was controlled by Sunday. Security personnel and locals were mobilised to protect the forests. Three days ago, a fire broke out in Kharanefodan Community Forest on the border of Jugal-7. Due to the difficult terrain, security forces and locals struggled to contain the flames, but the fire has now been extinguished.

A wildfire in Liping forest of Bhotekoshi-2, near the Nepal-China border, burned last Friday before being contained by Saturday. Around 35 hectares of forest were destroyed, DSP Yadav said.

Attempts to douse the Liping fire using a Simrik Air helicopter failed. The helicopter carried 800 litres of water from the Bhotekoshi river 54 times before the operation was called off.

Authorities believe the Liping fire was triggered by welding work at the tunnel site of the under-construction Liping Khola Hydropower Project.

Meanwhile, police detained a 70-year-old man, Daulat Syangbo of Kipche, on suspicion of setting fires in Kipche, Patichaur, and other areas. He is being questioned at the Jalbire Area Police Office.

In Dolakha, a massive fire scorched hectares of forest land in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area in Sikpaswar in ward 7 of Gaurishankar Rural Municipality. The wildfires started on January 28 were finally brought under control after nine days of intense efforts.

The fire had spread over 600 hectares, including areas crucial for the habitat of the red panda. According to Tulsi Prasad Dahal, head of the conservation area, the fire caused extensive damage to the forest, including the destruction of the Himalayan bamboo forest, a crucial area for wildlife.