Sri Lanka struggling to contain forest fires
A lack of money and equipment are preventing the authorities and air force from tackling the blazes
The Forest Department and Disaster Management Centre (DMC) authorities in Sri Lanka are struggling to contain forest fires in the Badulla, Puttalam, Vavuniya and Hambantota districts, and other areas due to lack of funds and equipment.
In the popular tourist area of Ella in the Badulla District, air force assistance was required, with a Bell 212 helicopter deployed and seven Bambi bucket operations taking place.
Badulla District DMC Assistant Director EML Udayakumara said that villagers are setting fire to the savannas, hunters are taking advantage of the dry weather, and campers and holiday makers are ignoring the winds when setting campfires and lighting cigarettes.
He said: “We have instructed estate managers to have a fire belt in the boundaries of their plantation lands.” Announcements are also to be made in places of worship within estates on the consequences of kindling fire in forest lands. He added once a fire starts spreading it is extremely difficult to get fire trucks to mountainous terrain.
Director General of the DMC, Major General (Retd) S Ranasinghe said forest fires are a growing burden to authorities due to the cost involved. “As dozers and backhoes are not permitted to build fire gaps, obtaining manual labour is a hard task with limited financial resources. Lack of manpower is an issue for Forest Department officials,” he told the Sunday Times, Sri Lanka.
He said dousing the Ella fire by the Air Force cost close to US$10,000 (SL Rs3.2 million) with one operation costing about US$2,100.
“All forest fires in the country are man-made. Though there are legal provisions, it’s difficult to catch the culprits without proof. An action plan is underway to establish intelligence teams,” he said.
He said that district secretaries will be instructed to make sure that every estate maintains its own fire belt, and every district is to have a fire prevention standard operating procedure (SOP).
The Dominican Air Force has also had to deploy Bell helicopters with Bambi buckets to combat wildfires this season.
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