Five fires erupted in the protected Margalla Hills National Park on Tuesday, the largest of which erupted in a greenbelt near the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
All of the fires were thought to be man-made, but they were exacerbated by the exceptionally dry and hot weather.
The fire crews began fighting the fires at 9:50 a.m. and worked until well after sunset.
The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had put out the fire at four spots in the Margalla Hills by the time they arrived.
The reserve forest 18 near Talhar hamlet had erupted into a blaze that took 60 firefighters from several departments several hours to put out.
“After we were done fighting fires in other locations, the flames in the reserve forest had spread and gotten out of control.
The fire season is at its peak. Unfortunately, these fires were started by local people,” stated IWMB Director Tariq Bangash, who was present at the reserve region.
He voiced his belief that the flames will be entirely extinguished before the end of the night. The fire near Bari Imam took 65 staff members to extinguish.
When called at 9 p.m., CDA Director Environment Regional Rana Kashif claimed his workers were still fighting the fires. Pines were among the animals harmed by the fire, he said.
Chief Fire Officer Zafar Iqbal of the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) informed the News agency that the fire in the greenbelt near NUST took five hours, six fire tenders, and seven water tankers to put out.
Hundreds of tiny trees were destroyed in the inferno. Mr. Iqbal also believes the fire was caused by human error.
A second fire near the Navy Club Rawal Dam was also extinguished. It was the second fire in the area surrounding the yacht club in less than a week.
A greenbelt fire in front of the Shell gas station on Murree Road was also put out.
“This has been the worst dry spell that has augmented the fires,” said Mr. Iqbal.
To read our blog on “CDA has purchased drones to monitor fires in Margalla Hills,” click here.