Destruction of over 200 hectares in forest reserve:

Fire under control

Rafik Jalaldeen

A fire which destroyed between 200 to 250 hectares of the Hurulu forest reserve has been brought under control by yesterday morning after it raged for more than 10 hours. The suspects are believed to be living adjoining the forest.

Forest Conservation Department Conservator General Sarath Fernando said around 500m along the Trincomalee- Habarana Road adjoining the Hurulu forest reserve was cleaned for security reasons. "It is believed that someone from this area has set fire to the forest reserve. The forest was dry due to the weather and a sudden fire rapidly spread in the protected land," Fernando told the Daily News.

He said the fire was doused with Army, Air Force, Police and Civil Defence Force assistance.

He said the fire raged for over 10 hours, adding that grass and shrub were destroyed in the fire. Damages to the tall trees were minimal.

Fernando, according to initial investigations some people living adjoining the forest reserve have been involved in igniting fire for some reason. Police are investigating.

Air Force spokesman Group Captain Janaka Nanayakkara told the Daily News that Air Force ground troops and fire fighters were called to douse the fire soon after the fire broke out at the forest reserve.

The Air Force helicopters assisted to extinguish the fire. “The Air Force helicopters engaging the Bambi Bucket Operation dropped 20 shuttles of water to douse the fire,” he added.

(Editor’s note: The extent of the affected forest land was inadvertently reported as 2,500 acres in our yesterday’s copy. The actual extent is between 200-250 ha).