SGNP to tackle forest fires on war footing with new technology

Mumbai: Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is developing a fire-fighting system that will be updated with the latest technology in order to manage fires in a quick and better manner. The park had, in September, set up three outposts to prevent poaching and forest fires.

The park will develop a fire line network to pre-empt blazes from occurring at a particular place one day in advance. This will be in place by the next fire season (November to February). Two new towers will be set up in Log Hut and Nagla in addition to four existing towers. These towers will be equipped with Osborne Fire Finders and manned by forest guards. The fire finder is a combination of a place table and a prismatic compass, which are used as navigation and surveying instruments. The reading on the fire finder will be communicated to the Control Room. Once the fire is located, the control room will direct the nearest van along with the hotshot crew to precede the spot and put out the fire. There will be fifteen such units comprising twenty-fire fire fighters each.

Firewatchers, who will be employed annually as labourers during the fire season, will also be trained to use Osborne Fire Finders. Range forest officers, the assistant conservator of forests and deputy forest officers will be asked to train them. Training of seven to ten days will be conducted for it. Flames will be brought under control with the help of mop-up exercises, which are an integral part of fire fighting. The crew leader will then report to the control room with information of prime facie losses to the forest.  

Chief conservator of forests of SGNP Ahmad Anwar said, “Even though forest fires may be beneficial in the forest eco-system, uncontrolled and unmanaged fires are a cause of worry to all foresters. The fire plan for SGNP has been submitted to the state government after which we will implement it.”