MURREE, May 28 Fire broke out in four forests of Murree simultaneously early on Thursday, destroying hundreds of trees and affecting wildlife.

The blaze in Angoori, Samly, Chaka and Plassy forests was described by officials as the most intense in the last several years.Murree's Sawan valley and its adjoining areas were filled with dense smoke as the fire swept across a large area.

Staffers of the forests department, Rescue 1122 and fire brigade along with locals managed to put out the fire in only one forest after struggling for hours.

Meanwhile, locals alleged that employees of the forest department were involved in setting the forest on fire to destroy evidence of illegal cutting of trees by timber mafia with whom they had developed links.