In a proactive initiative to strengthen forest fire management, the Forest Department organized workshops on Forest Fire Management and Mitigation Strategies in Shopian and Kehmil Forest Divisions. The events witnessed participation from key stakeholders, including officials from the Forest Department, Forest Protection Force (FPF), Fire & Emergency Services, Indian Army, and the Health Department.
The workshop in Shopian took place at the Divisional Forest Office in Padpawan, focused on forest fire prevention, suppression techniques, safety protocols, and the importance of inter-agency coordination. Experts highlighted early detection mechanisms, the role of modern technology, and community participation in wildfire management.
In the technical session, mock drills were conducted regarding the use of Forest Fire Equipment and Standard Operating Procedures to be followed during a fire emergency. Demonstrations regarding First Aid, Rescue and Evacuation Operations were conducted by the Fire & Emergency Services.
A similar workshop was conducted at Kehmil Forest Division emphasized fire prevention, jungle survival and first aid techniques. Resource persons from Fire and Emergency Services, the Indian Army, and the Health Department shared critical insights with over 100 frontline forest personnel from Kehmil, Kamraj and FPF Dedikote.
Both workshops aimed to enhance preparedness, strengthen response mechanisms, and foster inter-agency collaboration to safeguard forests from fire hazards.