Srinagar, Jan 21: Kashmir witnessed a sharp decline in forest fire incidents in 2025, with around 350 cases reported so far compared to over 1,000 incidents in the previous year, Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, Irfan Rasool Wani said on Tuesday.

Wani said forest fires usually intensify during prolonged dry spells, noting that climate change has emerged as a major contributing factor. Rising temperatures, dry grass and extended dry weather, he said, make forests highly vulnerable, where even a small spark can trigger a fire.
He said most forest fires in Kashmir are surface fires, though man-made causes cannot be ruled out. Human negligence and mischief, he added, also play a role in igniting forest areas.
The Chief Conservator said the Forest Department remains on constant alert, with control rooms established in every district for forest fire management and equipped with necessary tools and resources. Fire watchers have been deployed in vulnerable zones to ensure early detection and quick response.
Stressing that forest fires during dry spells are a global phenomenon, Wani said Kashmir’s forests are particularly vulnerable due to changing climatic patterns. He emphasised that collective effort is essential to control fires in time.
Appealing to the public, he urged citizens to act responsibly by avoiding inflammable materials in forest areas and promptly reporting any fire incident to the nearest forest authorities for swift action.