ISLAMABAD: Firefighters were unable to extinguish two fires that broke out in the Margalla Hills on Wednesday, putting in question the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad’s (MCI) preparedness for seasonal fires.

The fires broke out at Saidpur Viewpoint and in Rumli village, and could not be extinguished completely by the time this report was filed.

“Fire broke out on two points. Our efforts are underway to put out the flames, but strong winds have been creating problems for us,” said Deputy Director Akhtar Rasool. He said 80 firefighters are part of the operation.

Mr Rasool said he had asked the mayor’s office for a helicopter, as they had been told the Cabinet Division’s helicopter was not available, but to no avail.

Another official said the fire could have resulted from human error or been deliberately lit by unknown individuals.

Sources said that 200 MCI officials are permanently deputed at various points in the hills, but incidents of fire have regularly taken despite the heavy deployment. At least 10 fires, five of which were major incidents, have broken out this month.

A major fire on March 30 led to MCI to ask for four helicopters, owned by the military and the Cabinet Division, to extinguish it.

The MCI and Capital Development Authority hires around 400 locals every year from various villages in the hills for firefighting operations for three months, sources said. This year, locals have not yet been hired.

Emergency and Disaster Management Director Zafar Iqbal said the areas where the fires had broken out were out of the access for fire brigade vehicles, which was why his department was unable to help environment wing firefighters working to extinguish the fires with traditional methods, such as beating the fire with bushes.

Spread over 12,605 hectares, the Margalla Hills National Park sees scores of fires every year, which damage the forest and add to air pollution.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2018