Wildfires have ignited in the forests of the Sulaiman Range, located in Dera Ismail Khan, spreading across various areas and endangering local plant life. The fire is visible at four different spots along the base of the mountain, posing a significant threat to the region’s flora.
A Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Forest Department official confirmed that there were 249 fire incidents in the province during the first half of last year, damaging around 1,918 hectares of forest. Causes included negligence, accidental sparks, and natural factors like lightning.
In the current situation, fires are active in the Tajri village to the north of the range and the Almar Kalan valley to the south. The flames have spread rapidly, and the fire’s intensity is such that it can be seen from Daraainda Tehsil Headquarters. Local sources are particularly concerned about the destruction of valuable tree species, including olives and pines.
In the first half of 2024, there were 306 reported fire incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s forests. Abbottabad had the highest number, with 122 fires, followed by Lower Dir with 45 and Malakand with 23. Other districts such as Orakzai, Battagram, Swabi, Upper Dir, and Mardan reported multiple incidents, causing significant damage. The wildfire in Lower Dir’s Badwan Adan Zai Hill, which lasted six days, was eventually brought under control.
