Morung Express News
Kohima | February 13
A forest fire erupted in the Kipfüzha sector of Kigwema Village, Kohima, on Tuesday, fueled by dry and windy conditions. The fire, first noticed by villagers around 11:00-11:30 am, has since spread rapidly toward Mt. Shüho (Shüho Peak), an ecologically significant area home to rare flowers, including red rhododendrons and orchids.
Kigwema Village Council Chairman Balie Kere warned that the fire poses a severe threat to both biodiversity and human settlements, with the potential to spread to residential areas or neighboring villages.
The Kohima (South) Fire and Emergency Services Station confirmed that a fire alert was received around noon. A team of six personnel, along with one fire tender, was dispatched to the scene. However, due to the fire’s location—far above accessible roads and inhabited areas—the team returned after about an hour. Officials have yet to determine the cause of the fire.
Expressing concern, Kere reiterated that the village has enforced a complete ban on forest and jungle burning. “There are penalties under various government laws. At the village level, anyone found intentionally setting fire to the forest is liable to pay a penalty of Rs 50,000,” he said. The village’s Youth Organization has been tasked with enforcing the ban, with signboards installed to raise awareness.
Efforts are underway to create firebreaks and contain the spread. Kere also emphasized the village’s commitment to investigating the cause of the fire and lamented the destruction of biodiversity.
A member of the Kigwema Youth Organization suggested that the fire may have been man-made, possibly linked to jhum cultivation preparations. The KYO has urged anyone responsible for starting the fire to come forward while vowing to conduct an investigation to identify those responsible.
