As summer approaches, the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj is taking preventive measures against forest fires in India . They will deploy more than 500 fire crews and specialist equipment to tackle these natural disasters.
Prakash Chand Gogineni, the regional chief forest officer and field director of STR, highlighted the urgency of the situation, with frequent forest fires in India from March to mid-June posing a major challenge to wildlife conservation.
A strategic roll-out to prevent fire risks in India
Furthermore, to counter this threat, they are planning a strategic deployment, deploying 505 firefighting squadrons across the Baripada, Rairangpur and Karanjia wildlife divisions, as well as in the southern and northern sectors of STR. Balasore and Keonjhar will see 50 and 170 additional squads respectively. These measures are designed to ensure a rapid and effective response in the event of a fire.
To support these teams, they will distribute around 733 air blowers across the five wildlife divisions in Mayurbhanj. Indeed, the Similipal Foundation will also provide personal protective equipment to firefighters. This includes torches, clothing, ORS sachets, footwear and emergency kits. Ultimately, this initiative aims to protect those on the front line in the fight against forest fires, whilst preserving the flora and fauna of this biodiverse region.