100 people deployed to contain blaze at Maldare forest

The searing heat and dry vegetation have combined to fuel forest fires in Kodagu, at Turahalli forest in Bengaluru, and at Lakkavalli forest in Chikkamagaluru district.

Officials claimed the fire was under control in Kodagu, but it was raging in parts of Maldare and Dubare in Kushalnagar range of Madikeri division as on Sunday.

The authorities pressed in a labour force of 100 people at Maldare reserve forest. The fire was brought under control by late evening, according to Manjunath Kundapura, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Madikeri. Many of the local residents also joined the effort.

The official said vegetation spread over 50 acres may have been damaged, but added that it was a ground fire and not a crown fire, meaning the damage was minimal.

Even Bengaluru was not spared from the fire fury. A fire was reported in Turahalli forest area on Sunday evening. The fire, which is said to have spread over one and a half acres, was doused soon after it was noticed.

According to the RFO of the area, Varun Kumar, it could have been an accidental fire. “It was ground fire. There is habitation in the surrounding areas. Such fires are common in summer,” he said. The fire was noticed around 5.30 p.m. and was doused within half an hour, according to officials.

Similarly, vast tracts of vegetation in the forest in Lakkavalli range were reduced to ashes. The forest fire was noticed at Dublapura and Bavikere around 2.30 p.m. on Sunday. Forest staff succeeded in dousing the fire soon after. The officers maintained there was no major damage.