LAKKI MARWAT/BAJAUR: A fire broke out in the mountainous area of Latambar union council of Karak district on Saturday night, a Rescue 1122 official said.

He said the fire spread over a vast area in no time, prompting the rescue service to send a team of firefighters to the remote locality to put out the blaze.

He said the firefighters used fire beaters and other techniques to extinguish the blaze. “Though the terrain is very difficult, the rescue personnel are battling fire at several places in the mountains,” he said.

Meanwhile, scores of precious trees were burnt after a forest caught fire in Utmankhel tehsil of Bajaur district on Sunday.

Residents and Rescue 1122 officials said the fire quickly engulfed a large area, destroying scores of trees in the mountain.

Rescue officials said a team of firefighters was instantly dispatched to the locality after receiving the information about the incident to join the local people in extinguishing the blaze.

According to a rescue statement, scores of trees were destroyed before the firefighters could reach the site located some 30 kilometres from Khar, the district headquarters.

It said the fire was finally extinguished after two hours long joint efforts by the Rescue 1122 firefighters and a group of local residents.

The people claimed it was the second time during the past two years that the said mountain had caught fire.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2025