Rawalpindi declares forest fire season

The Forest Department has declared the period from April 15 to July 15 as the "fire season" to ensure the protection and conservation of government forests across the Rawalpindi division, including the hilly tehsils of Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan, and the Margalla Hills. During these three months, there is a heightened risk of forest fires. Under the fire season regulations, carrying matches, cigarettes, lighters, saws, axes, daggers, and knives in dense forests, including those in Murree, Kotli Sattian, and the Margalla Hills, has been banned. Additionally, lighting wood fires for picnics, barbecues, tea preparation, or cooking, as well as using gas cylinders and stoves in forests, has also been prohibited. A Forest Department spokesperson stated that embers from fires can smolder for a long time and may ignite dry leaves, leading to dangerous wildfires. Citizens and families have been urged to refrain from lighting fires in forests, or face action. Temporary offices for sub-divisional forest officers are being established in forest areas during the fire season. Closed-circuit cameras have been installed on key routes for 24-hour monitoring, while field staff will conduct patrols on bicycles, motorcycles, and even horses and mules. To combat potential fires, large ponds have been constructed in dense forests to store rainwater, which can be used immediately in case of fire. These ponds will also serve as a water source for wildlife. The forest officer for Rawalpindi Division said that all necessary measures have been taken under the chief minister's guidelines to protect forests from fires during the summer.