Fire destroys 10 acres of Haputale forest reserve

By Prasad Rukmal

A fire that broke out in the Turpentine Forest Reserve near the Haputale Y-junction has spread rapidly, destroying around 10 acres of land, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said.

They said the fire has intensified due to the prevailing dry weather conditions in the area. Efforts to bring the blaze under control are currently underway, with personnel from the Haputale Pradeshiya Sabha, the Haputale Police Special Task Force, the Bandarawela Municipal Council Fire Department, and disaster management officers deployed to the site using water bowser fire engines.

Meanwhile, Army and Air Force personnel stationed at the Diyatalawa Army Camp have been placed on standby to assist in emergency response operations if required.

According to Haputale Police, preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been deliberately set, possibly by individuals attempting to hunt wild animals or engaging in reckless activities amid the ongoing dry weather conditions.

Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Uva Province, Mahesh Senaratne, said that police officers in civilian attire have been deployed to identify and arrest individuals responsible for setting fire to forest reserves, forests and roadside vegetation, particularly as extremely dry weather conditions continue to prevail across the region.

The DMC have urged the public to refrain from any activities that could trigger forest fires and to immediately report any suspicious incidents to the police.