Huge fire erupts in pine nuts forest

QUETTA: Huge fire broke out in the pine nuts forest on Suleman mountain range in Sherani district of Balochistan which engulfed a large area and pine nut trees, on Wednesday.

Officials said that the fire started at Suleman range area of Dera Ismail Khan last night which also reached neighboring Sherani district which two years back also badly affected causing millions of rupees losses as hundreds of pine nut trees were burnt.

The fire could not be controlled despite hectic efforts of security forces and workers of the Forest Department and local people for many days. However, the Iranian government had sent an aerial firefighter Ilyushin-76 aircraft which brought the forest fire under control after

The local administration of Sherani district immediately sent fire fighters and other officials of the Forest Department to bring the fire under control.” Efforts were underway with the help of Frontier Corps and levies for extinguish the fire.” A senior official of the District Sherani said, adding that the windy condition was also hindering the efforts to control fire.

The fire has engulfed a large area at Suleman range of Sherani district. Reports reaching the Dera Ismail Khan area fire continued despite efforts from the Khyber Pukhtunkhawa government.