The prevailing heatwave across Pakistan has ignited forest fires in eight distinct locations within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising significant environmental and safety concerns. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) indicates that these extreme weather conditions are expected to persist throughout the week, with temperatures projected to remain considerably above normal across most parts of the country.
While the blazes in some areas have been brought under control, efforts to extinguish fires in other regions are still actively underway. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department issued a report confirming fires erupted in forested areas of eight different regions, including Allah Dhand Batkhela Forest Range, Kaldara in Dargai, Buner, Bagh Kundi Chakdara, and the challenging mountainous terrain of Uski.
Latifur Rehman, spokesperson for the Forest Department, stated that fires in the forests of Petu Dara in Timergara and Adenzai were successfully contained. However, operations continue at other sites, where rugged terrain presents considerable challenges for firefighting teams. The comprehensive rescue effort involves personnel from the KP Forest Department, rescue teams, civil defense, and local volunteers. Rescue workers have been instructed to remain at the sites until the cooling process is fully completed to prevent reignition.
The spokesperson also mentioned that investigations are being conducted to ascertain the precise causes of the fires in the mountainous regions, though the severe heatwave is strongly suspected as a primary contributing factor. He added that even minor negligence can lead to substantial damage to trees and wildlife. Temperatures in the mountainous forest areas have soared to 48 degrees Celsius, causing dry shrubs to ignite rapidly and facilitating the widespread propagation of the fires.
The Forest Department has advised the public to avoid camping in the forested mountains of Hazara and Malakand divisions. Furthermore, the department has appealed to the public for cooperation in preserving forest resources and to refrain from lighting fires for cooking in forested areas during the summer months.
