Prevailing heat creates tinder dry conditions, sparking forest fires

The prevailing dry weather is aiding forest fires to spread as the arid atmosphere has dried most plant matter. Fire fighters are on standby to put out forest fires and save reserves from being burned down.

A forest fire was averted by the Puttalam fire brigade as they controlled the fire which erupted on a private land bordering the forest on Friday.

Puttalam Mayor K A Bhais said that a fire erupted on a private land at Sirambiadiya in Puttalam around afternoon. A 10-acre land containing cashew trees and other crops was destroyed by this fire.

Mr Bhais said that he was relieved that the fire did not engulf the forest reserve nearby. He pointed out that the fire brigade had averted the fire from spreading into Sellankandal Forest Reserve, and had contained it within the private land.

Sellankandal Forest Reserve, which expands over 400 hectares, and is located near Mee Oya, is the largest forest reserve in Puttalam.

Earlier in the week another fire broke out at the Madinnagoda swamp in Rajagiriya. Four fire trucks were deployed to douse the fire but this was insufficient as the fire spread rapidly. The Sri Lanka Air Force had to deploy a Bell 212 helicopter to help control the fire.

Residents claim that the fire took place as a result of the use of fire to brew illicit liquor in the vicinity. However, Officer in Charge of the Welikada Police K D R W Koralage said that the fire which erupted on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 started without a clearly discernible cause, and therefore they would not be conducting any investigation into that fire.

Another fire erupted last Sunday at Singimale Forest Reserve in Hatton. Due to this forest fire, a large area was destroyed. The fire was contained after the Sri Lanka Air Force used a Bell 212 helicopter to fight it.