MANANG, Feb 4: The wildfire that started on Friday evening in the Timang forest of Chame Rural Municipality-1, Manang, is yet to be brought under control. According to the District Administration Office, efforts to contain the fire have been ongoing since Friday but it continues to rage as of Monday.
Chief District Officer Matrika Acharya stated that all three security agencies have been mobilized to douse the fire, but controlling it has been challenging. “Security forces, along with local teams, are working to put out the fire. However, the fire has spread in a remote and rugged terrain far from human settlements, making it difficult to control,” Acharya said. He assured that preventive measures have been taken to stop the fire from spreading further, and there is no immediate risk to settlements.
Dhak Bahadur Bhujel, Chief of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project in Manang, mentioned that the dry season has made it difficult to control the fire. "Wildfires occur in the conservation area every year due to dry weather and dried tree stumps in the forest," he said.
The fire is at risk of spreading further due to pine trees, leaves, and strong winds, Bhujel added. By Monday, approximately 1.5 hectares of forest had already been burned. Medicinal plants such as wild yam, lordsalla, jatamansi, panchaule, and morel mushrooms are at high risk of destruction due to the fire.
“The wildfire affects birds and wildlife habitats. It can destroy grazing areas for animals like yaks,” Bhujel said. He also reported that since December, several areas, including pond, Ice Lake, and Pisang Cliff, have experienced wildfires.
In December 2020, a wildfire that started in Manang lasted for two months, destroying over 1,200 hectares of forest.