Lahore: The fire that broke out in the privately owned area of Dhok Miani area of Khushab district engulfed the Skesar forest of the adjacent Nowshera forest range, an official of the forest department was killed while trying to extinguish the fire.
Mudassar Waheed Malik, secretary of the Punjab Forest Department, says that due to the fire being near the top of the mountain, it was impossible for vehicles to reach there. Around 80 personnel from the Forest Department and Pakistan Air Force Air Base were immediately dispatched to control the fire. The fire was completely brought under control with the efforts of the district administration, Rescue 1122, PDMA and other agencies by initiating timely action and the situation is under complete control at present.
Mudassar Waheed Malik says that the officials from Forest Department Mianwali Forest Division under the leadership of DFO Mianwali also played a role in extinguishing the fire. Rescue 1122 team of district Chakwal was also present at the spot under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Khushab, all district officers to extinguish the fire.
He further said that the intense heat, strong wind and the fire towards the ridge of the mountain was making it difficult to control. In this attempt, Syed Ghulam Raza, an official of the Forestry Department, died while putting out the fire.
Secretary Forests says that control rooms have been set up for fire fighting at the district level during the fire season
