SANGUEM: Staffers of the Range Forest Office, Sanguem, were kept on their toes to fight the wildfires raging at three places on the densely forested Vichundrem hill in Netravali village.
The Forest Department team worked through the night yesterday to bring the fire, which destroyed numerous fully-grown trees, under control.
“By late Saturday evening, the fire was almost brought under control and will soon be completely extinguished,” said Deputy Conservator of Forests Minguel Fernandes.
At Vichundrem, the team managed to bring the fire under control by drawing a line of control across the area of the fire, preventing its spread. A forest fire line is created by removing all dry leaves and other material that could serve as fuel for the fire, in a line, and burning them in a controlled manner to arrest the movement of the wildfire.
Fernandes added that the Forest Department team also doused a minor fire incident which occurred at Rivona.
It is pertinent to note here that the Forest Department in Sanguem has been working almost around-the-clock for the past one week after hills and scrub vegetation at several places caught fire. The fire at Gaya Dongor, a hill in Cotarli village was put out after three days and strenuous efforts by fire and forest personnel, as they had to walk and even crawl in some parts of the jungle to reach the blaze.
Fernandes and his team are seen at the sites of the wildfires at all times.
Fire incidents were also reported at Netravali, but were contained before too much damage was done, said sources.
