Forest Fires in 2024: Data and Analysis

Context: IAF joined the Tamil Nadu Government’s efforts to tackle forest fires in the Nilgiris. It is using the “Bambi Bucket”, deploying a Mi-17 V5 helicopter to dump 16,000 litres of water on the fires.

Forest Fire Season

In India

• Forest Fire Season: Forest fire season in India spans from November to June, with the highest frequency of fires observed from February as summer approaches. April and May are the peak fire months.
• Vulnerability: According to the 2019 India State of Forest Report (ISFR), over 36% of India’s forest cover is prone to frequent fires, including 4% ‘extremely prone’ and 6% ‘very highly’ prone areas.

Global Context

• Globally, around 3% of the total forest area, or about 98 million hectares, was affected by fires in 2015, mainly in tropical regions.

Where do the most forest fires in India occur?

• According to the FSI, severe fires break out in dry deciduous forests, while evergreen, semi-evergreen, and montane temperate forests are comparatively less prone to fires.
• Severe fires often occur in the dry deciduous forests of Northeast India, Odisha, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Uttarakhand.
  • For Example: In March 2023, large bushfires raged in Goa, triggering an investigation into whether they were “man-made”.
    • In 2021, a series of forest fires broke out in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland-Manipur border, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat, including in wildlife sanctuaries.

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Forest Fires in 2024: Data and Analysis

Fire Prone Areas

• Highest fire incidents reported in Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Maharashtra.
• Southern states – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu – have also seen fire incidents.
• Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of South India are generally less vulnerable.
• However, Tamil Nadu has faced wildfires in recent years.

Causes of Forest Fires

• Human-made: Discarded cigarettes, campfires, burning debris.
• Natural: Lightning is the most common cause.

Factors Contributing to Spread (Especially in South India)

• Weather conditions:
  • Hot and dry temperatures
  • Above-normal day temperatures
  • Clear skies
  • Calm winds
  • Early availability of dry biomass due to hot February (hottest since 1901)
• Aridity: Most districts in southern India are classified as “mildly arid” with no rain and high temperatures.
• Excess Heat Factor (EHF): A high chance of heat waves is predicted in western Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Connection between Climate change and Forest Fires

• Global warming: Climate change and global warming have increased temperatures, leading to longer dry spells. This facilitates the drying of vegetation, making them vulnerable.
• Decline in duration of rainy season: Even though the intensity of rains has increased, it is concentrated within a short period. An increase in the dry season has allowed vegetation to turn into a tinder box.
• Increase in lightning: Studies have indicated that there will be more frequent incidences of lightning due to climate change. Such lightning incidents can trigger forest fires.
• Heatwaves: Heatwave incidents have drastically increased across the world because of climate change. Heatwave conditions are optimal for forest fire incidents.

Forest Fire Management under National Forest Policy

• The policy aims to prepare a strong database/network on forest fires and evolve an appropriate method to deal with the forest fire situation in more effective manner.
• Under the policy, an Early Warning Fire Forecasting System utilizing satellite data and a Fire Danger Rating System for the early detection of forest fire has been introduced.
• Some actions suggested under the policy:
  • Preventive actions: A preventive program consisting of zoning, danger rating, early warning and real-time monitoring must be developed and implemented.
  • Inter-agency coordination: The Forest department needs to coordinate with the National Remote Sensing Agency, Forest Survey of India, the Meteorological Department, All India Radio and State-owned television to plan their actions during the fire season.
  • Increase vigilance: Vigilance must be increased in vulnerable areas. For that adequate number of firewatchers must be appointed.
  • Communication network: Accessibility to vulnerable areas must be enhanced to enable quick transport of humans and materials from one area to another.
  • Awareness campaign: An awareness campaign involving schools, Joint Forest Management (JFM) committees, NGOs and other groups must be initiated to handle fire damage, prevention, detection communication and suppression.
  • Training: Training must be provided to fire managers, including trainers at JFM unit levels. This will empower them to take effective actions during forest fires.

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