Forest fires continue in Gachsaran Valley and Khaiz Mountain

Fires continue to burn on Mount Khaiz in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad provinces and in the forests of the “Dil” region of Gachsaran. The head of the Kohgiluyeh Environmental Department, “Moltamsaneh,” has called on the public to help contain the fire.

The fire in the Khaiz Protected Area began on Thursday, June 28, and the forests and areas of the Dale region in Gachsaran County were also affected by the fire a day later. According to local officials in Kahgulyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces, the fires are still ongoing after four days and have burned about 250 hectares of forests and pastures in the region.

Ruhollah Azizi, Director General of Kohgiluyeh Environmental Protection, told ISNA news agency on Sunday, May 31, that the fire on Mount Khaiz has flared up again.

The head of the Kohgiluyeh environmental department appealed to the public for help, saying: "We kindly ask the public to help prevent the destruction of wildlife habitat and to work to contain the fire."

Azizi also stated that the gathering place of the popular forces was the village of Abkaseh on the edge of Mount Khaiz.

Khaiz is located in the geographical area of ​​Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad provinces. Khaiz region has an area of ​​33,385 hectares and has been included in the list of protected areas of Iran since January 2018. The vegetation of the region is oak (dominant species), holm oak, wild almond, arjun, khoshak, agon, medicinal plants and species of the wheat family. The animal species of the region are goats, wolves, hyenas, jackals, foxes, leopards and birds such as partridges and woodpeckers.

Ali Khanpayeh, the commander of Gachsaran County, has also announced that the rate of forest and rangeland fires in the "Dil" region continues.

The local official said that more forces will be dispatched to the area by helicopters today to contain the fire.

A fire has spread from Behbahan in Khuzestan Province to the Kohgiluyeh Mountains.

A dispute between two ranchers caused a fire.

According to the Director General of Kohgiluyeh Environmental Protection, the fire started as a result of disputes between tribes located outside the Khaiz protected area.

Local officials said they were unable to contain the fire. Vahid Mohammadi-Tabar, director general of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad province's crisis management, announced that the governor had consulted with the defense minister and the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards to deploy a water-spraying helicopter from Khuzestan, and at the same time called on the public to help extinguish the fire. He said the most important need for controlling the fire in Khaiz is a helicopter and helipad for transporting troops.

According to ISNA news agency, the Ministry of Defense previously provided firefighting helicopters, but because the government did not provide them with credit for this work, the Ministry of Defense has not cooperated with the Forestry Organization in this regard for two years.