Sunderbans fire brought under control

A fire that broke out at Chandpai range of the Sunderbans East Zone under Sharankhola upazila was brought under control at about 5:00pm.

Local office of Bangladesh Forest Department said that the Fire Service and Civil Defence, the police, Forest Department along with local people brought the fire under control.

It took 3 hours of frantic efforts to douse the fire.

BFD said that firefighters cut a fire line over 5 kathas of land to prevent it from spreading further and were able to control the flames.

Almost 2 kathas of forest land were burnt by the fire, according to the primary information of BFD.

Divisional forest officer of Sunderbans East Zone Mohammad Belayet Hossain also visited the spot instantly.

He also said the staff of the Forest Department saw the fire in Dhansagar camp area of the forest at noon. Seeing the fire, he took part in putting out the fire quickly. There are no big trees in that area and did not cause any damage to wildlife.

DFO Muhammad Belayet Hossain said that a three-member investigation committee has been formed to find out the extent of forest damage and the onset of the fire.

Station officer-in-charge of Sharankhola Fire Station in Bagerhat SM Abdul Wadud said they went to the forest around 2:30pm.

Fire lanes have been cut across about 5 katha area so that the fire does not get involved in the forest. To put out the fire, water was brought from the River Bhola about two kilometres away by laying down a makeshift pipeline.

New Age