The focus is on better coordination and management of forest fire

Sonam Pem, Thimphu
Nov 17, 2016

The Department of Forests and Park Services under agriculture ministry is focusing on better coordination and management of forest fire, this year.

The department earlier focused on prevention.

Although, the department carries out numerous awareness programmes on prevention, the incidences of forest fire is on the rise every year.

In 2015, 86 forest fire cases were reported which destroyed 22,000 acres of forest.

“We also imparted training for the fire fighters throughout the country because we look into the prevention measure but at the same time forest fire isn’t 100 percent preventable,” said Forest Ranger, Kinley Tshering.

Kinley Tshering said they have to prepare fire fighters for the upcoming fire season. “That’s why the forest fire management system under the Department of Forest and park services has trained all the fire fighters throughout the country that falls in the forest fire prone area.”

On a pilot basis, the department installed four Internet protocol cameras in four different locations in the capital, last year.

They are at the Hindu Temple, Talakha, Tharana and Wangditse.

Gradually, the department will install internet protocol cameras in other Districts.

The official said such digital facility has helped in detecting forest fire and guiding the fire fighters to better coordinate and manage during the outbreak of a fire.