Forest Fire in Gachsaran Brought Under Control After 80 Hours with 200 Hectares Destroyed
The director general of natural resources and watershed management of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province announced the control of a forest fire in the Kohkhami forests of Gachsaran after 80 hours, with “200 hectares” of forest lands destroyed.
The forests and rangelands of Kohkhami in Gachsaran – Basht caught fire on Friday evening, the 2nd of Khordad, and continued until 11 PM on Monday, the 5th of Khordad.
As reported by Tasnim news agency on Tuesday, the 6th of Khordad, citing Gholamhossein Hakmatiyan, the forest fire in Kohkhami was brought under control on Sunday afternoon, the 4th of Khordad, but “with the occurrence of a 5.2 magnitude earthquake and the fall of burnt logs, the fire reignited.”
According to him, the extent of damage to the forests in the area is still unknown, and after the complete control of the fire, the damage will be assessed and announced precisely.
According to PANA news agency, Ali Khampayeh, the governor of Gachsaran county, also confirming the news of the fire being brought under control, said that “forces are still present in the area to extinguish the fire in case it flares up again and for any remaining logs.”
According to Tasnim, Hossein Kalantari, the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, also said on Monday during a visit to the fire-affected areas in Gachsaran that “200 hectares of rangelands and forests in Gachsaran have been destroyed by fire” at that moment.
According to Mr. Kalantari, the fire was brought under control in several stages, “but due to strong winds, rocky terrain, and dense vegetation cover, it flared up again.”
He called for an investigation into the cause of this fire and said that “such fires cause irreparable damage to natural resources areas.”
This official, therefore, called for “decisive” action against those responsible for such fires.
The governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, meanwhile, given that “fires occur half of every year” in the forests and rangelands of this province, emphasized the necessity of establishing a fire extinguishing base in this province.
Every year, numerous forest fires occur in Iranian forests, particularly in the Zagros region, causing significant damage.
According to IRNA, 350 hectares of forests and rangelands in various areas of Gachsaran county were destroyed by fire last summer.
90 percent of Gachsaran’s lands consist of national territories, of which 70 percent are rangelands and forests.
Source: Radio Farda
