Forest fires are a frequent occurrence in the country, particularly during the dry season between October and March. The fires are often triggered by a combination of dry weather, strong winds, and human activities, leading to the loss of acres of forest, destruction of homes, and disruption of ecosystems. Amid the destruction, growing concerns are being raised for the brave firefighters who risk their lives to battle the flames.
The country has the Interagency Forest Fire Coordinating Group, which acts as a Rapid Response Team, comprising members from the Department of Forests and Park Services, DoFPS, De-Suung, police, and others.
Their primary role is to provide an immediate response and control forest fires in their early stages. Moreover, community volunteers often step forward to battle forest fires during emergencies.
As these heroes work tirelessly to contain the destruction, growing concerns about their safety and well-being are capturing public attention.
“My brother went to battle the forest fire in the line of duty to serve the community. We worry that the fire might harm our people,” said Ugyen, a resident of Thimphu.
“Personal Protective Equipment is important, especially in forest fires, because there is not only the risk of fire but also the danger of rocks tumbling from cliffs and heavy smoke impacting one’s health. Therefore, people must take care of fire considering the weather conditions. I would also like to tell the firefighters to please take care of yourselves. Thank you for protecting our forests, and we truly appreciate all your efforts,” said Tshering Denkar, another resident of Thimphu
“We have a very limited number of professionals who have received firefighting training. So, when forest fires occur, we worry that the fire might destroy people’s homes. When people go to battle the fire, it is important that we wear protective clothing,” said Pema Dorji, also a resident.
Meanwhile, the Standard Operating Procedure or SOP for Forest Fire Fighting in Thimphu for the Interagency Forest Fire Coordinating Group, IFFCG highlights firefighter safety as a priority.
The SOP which is being replicated in other districts specifies that the Rapid Response Team will be fully trained and equipped with personal protective gear and firefighting tools.
According to the SOP, the procurement and distribution of all equipment should be coordinated by the DoFPS and approved through the IFFCG.
However, according to the DoFPS, procurement of Personal Protective Equipment or PPE, such as firefighting clothes, fire masks, fire gloves, safety helmets, and safety goggles, is challenging due to budget constraints as these items need to be imported and are expensive.
The department is, nonetheless, procuring firefighting equipment whenever funds are available. Along with PPE, other firefighting equipment such as shovels, flappers, water pack pumps, and machetes among others are also procured and distributed to relevant agencies.
Prioritizing safety measures will go a long way in letting firefighters continue their heroic duties with greater effectiveness, ultimately benefiting both themselves and the communities they serve.
The foremost and crucial priority, nevertheless, must be to prevent forest fires before they even begin.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Phub Gyem
