Forest fires keep officials on their toes in Mangaluru

MANGALURU: Forest fires are being reported in several parts of the Belthangady range of the Mangaluru division of the forest department. With the rising temperature, there has been a drastic rise in the incidents of forest fires in the range over the last five days. According to locals, several acres of forest may have been destroyed due to forest fires.
Belthangady range forest officer Thyagaraj said that on Sunday, forest fires were reported in Neriya and Charmadi. The fires have been brought under control to a great extent, and monitoring is on.
In the last four days, forest fires were also reported in Machina and Navoor. About four acres of land may have been destroyed in incidents of forest fires, he added. Last month, the forest officials of the Belthangady wildlife range managed to douse the fire that had spread over approximately 10 acres of grasslands.