20160328 Bangladesh Sundarbans fire under control, Bangladesh government opens inquiry
Bangladesh Mar 25 2016 “Forest”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Sundarbans fire under control, Bangladesh government opens inquiry
Updated: 2016-03-25-16:14
The fire that broke out at the Sundarabans’ Chandpai Range has been brought under control.
After visiting the place on Monday noon, Divisional Forest Officer (East) Md Saidul Islam told bdnews24.com, “The fire is now totally under control. The blaze has not been seen in new areas.”
“But we’re watching the area closely,” he added.
The fire erupted in the mangrove forest’s Nangli Camp under Dhan Sagar Station of the Chandpai Range on Sunday night and continued spreading until Monday morning.
The Forest Department has formed a three-strong committee to investigate the incident.
According to officials, a fire-fighting unit from Bagerhat’s Morrelganj, supported by Forest Department employees, get down to work on Monday morning to extinguish the fire.
Islam said a firebreak had been established to ensure that the fire did not spread to new areas.
According to him, there were no ‘valuable’ trees in the area that caught fire.
There were only shrubs that have been burned, he said.
DFO Islam said the probe committee, led by Chandpai Range Assistant Conservator of Forest Belayet Hossain, has been asked to submit its report within three working days after determining the reasons of the fire and the damage.
The other members of the committee are Chandpai Range Station Officer Gazi Matiar Rahman and Dhan Sagar Station Officer Sultan Mahmud.
Sultan Mahmud had earlier said forest employees spotted the fire in the jungle on the night of Sunday.
“They tried to put it out using water from the nearby rivers, but it did not work.”
He said the fire service was informed when the flames started spreading in the morning.
There were no reports of casualties until Monday noon.
Gusty winds, during this part of the year, make it harder to control such fires.
In 2011, two acres of forest in Chandpai Range was destroyed in a fire.
In 2014, another five acres at the same range were ravaged by another fire.
Web Source: bdnews24.com
http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2016/03/25/fire-breaks-out-at-sinha-group-textile-mill-at-narayanganjs-kachpur