
As summer progresses, the increasing frequency of forest fires in Odisha has become a growing concern for environmentalists and nature enthusiasts. According to data from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), approximately 1,564 fire points were identified across various forests in the state over the past seven days.
These fire points were observed in forests spanning multiple districts including Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, Kandhamal, Sundargarh, Gajapati, Ganjam, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Bargarh, Angul, Boudh, Nayagarh, Khurda, Cuttack, and Puri, as reported by FSI sources.
It’s noteworthy that any fire hotspot detected by satellite sensors like MODIS and/or SNPP-VIIRS, which are filtered within India’s forested areas based on state Recorded Forest Area (RFA) or Forest Cover Maps (FCM) according to FSI, is classified as a ‘forest fire incident’. The wildfires are believed to have been exacerbated by increased temperatures and dry weather conditions.
Between March 6 and March 13, around 389 fire points were previously recorded in various forests of the state. Since then, there has been a significant escalation in the number of incidents. This surge in wildfires was first reported by Sambad English.