Tackle The Burning Issue

As the scorching heat of increases, the incidents wildfires also begin to plague the communities living near the forest sites. This natural calamity, arising from inadequate preparedness and careless actions of individuals, has already caused loss of scores of lives and property and polluted the surrounding environment. In a heartbreaking incident last week, two individuals breathed their last while attempting to douse a forest fire in the jungles of Badikhel in Lalitpur. Their noble efforts to protect the sacred grounds of a temple were met with a tragic end, a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of wildfires. Tragically, this is not an isolated occurrence; similar incidents have claimed lives across the country.

The loss of three soldiers from the Nepal Army while battling a blaze in Dolpa’s Thulibheri Municipality-4 further emphasises the gravity of the situation. It is a sobering reality that even our nation’s guardians, entrusted with ensuring security, find themselves ill-equipped and lacking the necessary training to effectively combat these formidable foes. The lack of a dedicated burn treatment unit within the Army’s healthcare system is glaring proof of the gaps in concerned authorities' preparedness to deal with fires.

In just the past seven weeks, seven precious lives have been lost and 20 individuals have sustained injuries in 478 forest fire incidents. The toll extends beyond human casualties, with 176 livestock killed in the flames. As per the news published in this daily, over the past month alone, a staggering 1,597 forest and household fire incidents have been recorded, resulting in 35 fatalities and 93 injuries. These figures represent the untold anguish and devastation inflicted upon families and communities. The loss of lives, livelihoods, and shelter is too steep to pay for our collective inaction and complacency.

Experts have raised the call, emphasising the dire need for adequate preparedness, proper training, and the provision of essential equipment. The lack of skilled manpower and awareness dissemination at the grassroots level has exacerbated the crisis. While efforts have been made to distribute portable fire pumps to municipalities, these measures alone are woefully insufficient. It is imperative that the concerned authorities heed the calls of those with expertise in disaster management. 

Investing in the production of skilled manpower, constructing fire ponds, and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to those on the front lines are very essential. Failure to do so would be akin to sending our citizens into battle unarmed and ill-equipped. The time for complacency has long passed. The concerned authorities must rise to the challenge and prioritise the safety and well-being of citizens. This is not a battle that can be won through half-baked measures or ill-equipped responses. On the contrary, it demands a comprehensive and proactive approach.

In confronting the dire consequences of forest fires—pollution, health hazards, and loss of life and property and burn injuries—it is paramount to prioritise proactive preparedness. Together, the authorities must strengthen communities with essential knowledge and resources to combat these relentless adversaries. Through unified efforts, determined dedication, we can aspire to conquest over the looming threat of infernos that threaten our environments and livelihoods.