Forest fires are a major threat in forests during the dry summer months when leaves and other materials become highly flammable. Fires can be caused by natural events like lightning or human activities such as burning for grazing or warding off wild animals. There are two main types of forest fires - surface fires that burn along the forest floor and more dangerous crown fires that burn the tops of trees. Forest fires have many negative effects like loss of timber, wildlife, and biodiversity as well as increased soil erosion and global warming. Proper fire management through education, fire lines, watchers, and community involvement is needed to reduce fires and their impacts.

1. FOREST FIRE……………………A FIRE DISASTER
A PRESENTATION ON……………..

2. INTRODUCTION
• THE MOST COMMON HAZARD IN FOREST IS “FOREST FIRES”.
THEY POSE A THREAT NOT ONLY TO FOREST WEALTH BUT
ALSO TO THE ENTIRE REGION TO FAUNA AND FLORA
SERIOUSLY DISTRUBING THE BIODIVERSITY.
DURING SUMMER WHEN THERE IS NO RAIN FOR
MONHTS. THE FOREST BECOME LITTERED WITH
DRY LEAVES WHICH COULD BURST INTO FLAMES
IGNITED BY THE SLIGHTEST SPARK. BASICALLY
THE FOREST FIRE CAUSES IMBALANCES IN
NATURE AND ENDANGERS BIODIVERSITY.

3. CAUSES OF FOREST FIRE
IT CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES:-
1) ENVIRONMENTAL.
• LIGHTNING.
• HIGH TEMPERATURE AND DRYNESS IN SUMMER.
2) HUMAN RELATED.
• FIRE IS CAUSED WHEN A SOURCE OF FIRE LIKE WAKED FLAME,
CIGRETTE, ELECTRIC SPARK OR ANY SOURCE OF IGNITION.

4. HUMAN RELATED CAUSES COULD BE INTENTIONAL OR
UNINTENTIONAL FOR EXAMPLE:-
• GRAZIERS AND GATHERERS OF VARIOUS FOREST
PRODUCTS STARTS FIRE TO OBTAIN GRAZING GRASS
AND OTHER FOREST PRODUCE.
• THE USE OF FIRE BY VILLAGERS TO WARD OFF WILD
ANIMALS E.G. IN OUR REGION IN FEAR OF
LEOPARD, BROWN BEAR.

5. TYPES OF FOREST FIRE SOURCES
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF FOREST FIRES.
1. SURFACE FOREST FIRE.
2. CROWN FOREST FIRE.

6. SURFACE FOREST FIRE
• A FOREST FIRE MAY BURN
PRIMARILY AS A SURFACE
FIRE, SPREADING ALONG THE
GROUND AS THE SURFACE
LITTER (SENESCENT LEAVES
AND TWIGS AND DRY
GRASSES ETC) ON THE
FOREST FLOOR AND IS
ENGULFED BY THE
SPREADING FLAMES.

7. CROWN FOREST FIRE
• THE OTHER TYPE OF
FOREST FIRE IS A CROWN
FIRE IN WHICH THE
CROWN OF TREES AND
SHRUBS BURN , OFTEN
SUSTAINED BY A SURFACE
FIRE,. IT IS MOST
DANGEROUS TYPE OF FIRE.

8. EFFECTS OF FOREST FIRE
• Loss of valuable timber resources.
• Degradation of catchment area.
• Loss of wildlife.
• Loss of biodiversity.
• Reduction in forest cover.
• Global warming.
• Soil erosion.
• Loss of livelihood of forest
dwellers.

9. THE NEED OF FIRE MANAGEMENT
• BY EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT
THE LOSS OF FOREST FIRE.
• INVOLVING FOREST
MANAGEMENT COMMITEES ,
MAHILA MANDAL , YUVAK
MANDALS ETC.
• BY CREATING & MAINTAINING
FIRE LINES.
• BY CONSTRUCTION OF VAN
SAROVAR.
• BY RECRUITING FIRE WATCHERS.

10. FIRE PROTECTION WORK IN FOREST RANGE
“KOTLA”
FIRE LINE IN R 6 N MASTGARH
LENGTH 7KM

11. FIRE PROTECTION WORK IN FOREST RANGE
“KOTLA”
FIRE LINE IN R 15 N BHALI

12. FIRE PROTECTION & SOIL CONSERVATION WORK IN
FOREST RANGE “KOTLA”
RCC FARM POUND IN R 6 N MASTGARH C1A WHS / VAN SAROVAR IN UP79 AMBAL C1

13. FIRE RECORD OF KOTLA RANGE SINCE LAST
FIVE YEARS.

14. CONCLUSION
• FOREST FIRE IS A MULTI SECTOR ISSUE.
• FOREST FIRE IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.
• THE GOVERNMENT FROM VILLAGE TO NATIONAL LEVEL
SHOULD DEDICATE MORE RESOURCES FOR FIRE
CONCERN.
• A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON FIRE MANAGEMENT IS
NEEDED.

15. AT LAST……..THANKS &
BY: SH RAKESH KUMAR, FOREST RANGE OFFICER
FOREST RANGE OFFICE KOTLA
TEHSIL JAWALI DISTT KANGRA H.P.
AADI.SANDEEP91@GMAIL.COM
…………….SO……………