Another jungle fire reported in Niroyo Village was controlled by starting counterfires by villagers. As per DDMA Wokha, multiple wildfires that broke out in the district have been more or less contained by March 19.
Morung Express News
Wokha | March 19
As of March 19, authorities in Wokha confirmed that the multiple wildfires that broke out in the district on March 17 have been successfully contained. However, they remain on high alert, continuously monitoring the situation to prevent any resurgence.
Over the past three days, coordinated efforts by multiple agencies, volunteers, and local communities helped bring the fire under control, averting a major crisis for several villages. While no casualties were reported, the operation also included a rescue mission for a missing team member, who was safely located.
Providing an update on the wildfire and ongoing operations on Wednesday, L Jonjibemo Odyou, Assistant Manager of Relief, Recovery, and Mitigation and Nodal Officer of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Wokha, stated that the fire started around 10 AM on March 17, with authorities receiving alerts at approximately 1 PM.
By 1:27 PM, response teams, including Fire and Emergency Services, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and volunteers, were dispatched to the area. Departments such as the police, urban development, and forest department, along with volunteers from Wokha Village and Witter Theological College, also joined the firefighting efforts.
Despite their best efforts, the fire could only be partially contained on the first day.
The team managed to control its spread toward Humtsoe and Elumyo villages but faced significant challenges as the flames advanced toward Vankhosung and Wokha villages.
To contain the fire, roads were used as firebreaks, with volunteers stationed at key points to prevent the flames from crossing.
However, strong winds and the fire’s intensity made it difficult for responders to get close, and some firebreaks were breached.
The teams then focused on preventing the fire from reaching inhabited areas in Vankhosung with volunteers worked tirelessly through the night, creating additional firebreaks near settlements and closely monitoring the fire’s progression.
Fortunately, a shift in wind direction later that night helped prevent the fire from reaching the village and by 1:30 AM, the team was demobilised, Odyou narrated.
Continued operations
Firefighting operations resumed at 7:30 AM on March 18, with more volunteers joining the effort. The focus shifted to securing inhabited areas as the fire moved toward a steep, less accessible jungle.
The team identified an agricultural road below the burning area and instructed the village councils of Yikhum and Humtsoe to clear dry vegetation along the road to act as a fire line, which they promptly complied.
Amidst the firefighting efforts, a team member went missing in Vankhosung on March 18, prompting a simultaneous rescue operation. However, he was found alive and safely rescued on March 19.
Meanwhile, another team used drones to monitor the fire’s progression and assess remaining smoke pockets.
They observed that in some areas, the fire was dying down, while in others, villagers were successfully managing counterfires, which helped control the spread.
New ignition
During these operations, reports of another jungle fire in Niroyo Village surfaced.
The response team quickly assessed the situation, conducting aerial surveillance with a drone and interacting with villagers.
While the damage was significant, the villagers had managed to control the fire by starting counterfires, preventing further spread, the Nodal Officer informed.
Based on their assessment, the team was confident that the fire remained contained and posed no further threat.
In light of the incident, Odyou also urged farmers, village councils, and residents to exercise caution when practising jhum cultivation, especially during the dry and windy season. He emphasised the importance of proper fire safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
He also expressed optimism that the fire would die out naturally as long as it did not reignite. However, authorities would continue to monitor the situation closely.
Deputy Commissioner and DDMA Wokha Chairman Vineet Kumar extended his appreciation to all officers and frontline workers for their efforts in handling the disaster.
“We will continue to review our response protocols to improve preparedness for future emergencies,” he added.
The DDMA Wokha also commended the contributions of various departments and volunteers, including personnel from the SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, Home Guards Civil Defence, Wokha Forest Department, Wokha Police, as well as volunteers from Wokha & Humtsoe villages, Witter Theological College, village councils, NGOs, and other community members who provided invaluable support during the crisis.
