SRINAGAR: Kashmir has witnessed a significant decline in forest fire incidents in 2025, with around 350 cases reported so far compared to over 1,000 incidents during the previous year, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani, said on Tuesday.
Wani said forest fires generally intensify during prolonged dry spells and noted that climate change has emerged as a major contributing factor. Rising temperatures, combined with dry grass and extended dry weather, he said, make forest areas highly vulnerable, where even a minor spark can trigger a fire.
He said that while most forest fires reported in Kashmir are surface fires, man-made causes cannot be ruled out. Mischief and human negligence, he added, continue to play a role in triggering fires in forest areas.
The Chief Conservator said the Forest Department remains on constant alert and is fully prepared to control fire incidents. Control rooms have been established in every district specifically for forest fire management and have been equipped with the necessary tools and resources, he said.
Early detection and swift mobilisation are critical to controlling forest fires, Wani said, adding that fire watchers have been deployed across vulnerable forest zones.
He further said that forest fires during dry spells are a global phenomenon, but Kashmir’s forests remain particularly vulnerable due to changing climatic patterns. Only collective action, he stressed, can help in controlling forest fires in time.
Appealing to the public, Wani urged people to act responsibly and avoid leaving inflammable materials in forest areas. He also appealed to citizens to immediately report any forest fire incident to the nearest forest authorities to enable timely action. (KNT)
