Bijnor: With temperatures rising every day, forest department has begun preparations to face fires in forest areas. The department has started process of procuring fire tenders to douse forest fires and fire-resistant uniforms for its staff. The officials are to be given training on how to deal with and douse forest fires. Snake traps are also being procured as snake spotting increases in summer season.During summer, fires are common at Amangarh Tiger Reserve, which is a buffer zone of Corbett National Park in neighbouring Uttarakhand. When a fire breaks out in a forest, it becomes difficult to contain it as the forest department does not have the equipment required. The forest personnel also do not have fire-proof jackets and boots to enable them to douse the fire.The impact of a forest fire is so dangerous that the wild animals and birds in a bid to escape often enter human inhabited areas. In case animal and birds are unable to flee, they are roasted alive in the forest area. In both scenarios, wild animals pay a heavy price and it also leads to man-animal conflict situation.To deal with such adversaries, forest department is now purchasing fire-proof jackets and other equipment Giving details, Bijnor divisional forest officer M Semmaran said, “We are set to purchase fire controlling equipment like fire-proof jackets for staff and fire extinguishers. Besides fire lines are also being removed.”Apart from this, snake’s movement also increases in the forest area and sometimes they appear in populated areas during summer season. “To catch snakes, we are set to get snake-catcher sticks soon. All the equipment will be supplied to us by next week.“Once we get the equipment, forest personnel will be imparted training on dousing fires.” said Semmaran.

Stay updated with all the Meerut Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.