Nightlong operation succeeds in dousing fire atop Hill

Following the efforts of more than 100 persons, which included staff from the Forest department, Fire and Safety Services personnel and local residents, the fires which gutted more than 100 acres of forest atop the Chamundi Hill was doused on the early hours of Wednesday morning.

While the spread of fires stopped by 2.30 am on Wednesday, it was 4.30 am, before the operation was called off. Forest department personnel, who were earlier confident of dousing the fire by Tuesday night had to extend the operation, as fire started spreading aggressively around 8.30 pm.

A total of six fire engines, more than 50 staffers of the Forest department and local residents eventually succeeded in dousing the fire. Lalithadripura and Chamundi beats of the Mysuru Forest Range were affected by the fire.

Foul play

Pointing out that the fires had started in four different locations atop the Hill on Tuesday evening, department personnel suspect that the fire was a handiwork of miscreants. However, the department has not filed any complaint in this connection.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, V Karikalan, Deputy Conservator of Forests, said, persons who had caused the fire had crossed a fireline and set fire into regions which would otherwise be safe. Dried cow dung cakes could have been used to trigger the fire, he said.

He noted that attempts to douse one of the fires was affected as it had spread in a canyon between two hillocks of the Hill. “Fire engines could not reach the spot and attempts by the department staff to reach the spot was affected due to darkness and wind,” he said.

On whether the department would file a case in connection with the fire, he said, the identity of the persons responsible for the fire was not known. Moreover, there are chances that the problem might aggravate if a complaint is filed, as miscreants who set fires, are also known to set revenge fires, he said.

Patrolling

He added that patrolling will be intensified atop the Hill, following the recent incident. Apart from staffers at watch towers, the department has deputed three teams for patrolling.

He said, the fire on Tuesday, had ensured that the Hill would remain unaffected by the fire in the coming months, as most of the vegetation prone to fire had burnt away. “If we get the average showers expected in the month of March, we won’t have any fires on Chamundi Hill again this year,” he said. In 2014, a fire had broke out atop the Hill in January.