In the first half of the year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experienced 306 forest fires, with Abbottabad being the hardest hit, accounting for about 122 incidents. Lower Dir had 45 fire incidents, while Malakand saw 23. Orakzai and Battagram each recorded 19 incidents, causing extensive damage to forested areas.
Swabi reported 17 fires, Upper Dir had 10, Mardan experienced nine, Karak saw eight, and Mohmand recorded six incidents. Khyber, D.I. Khan, and Kohat each had four fires. Buner, Lower Chitral, Shangla, and North Waziristan each reported three incidents, while South Waziristan had two. Tank and Bajaur each experienced one fire. The fire in Lower Dir’s Badwan Adan Zai Hill was controlled after a six-day operation.
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An official from the KP Forest Department reported that 249 fire incidents damaged approximately 1,918 hectares of forest land. These fires affected both public and private properties, with causes including negligence, accidental sparks, and natural factors such as lightning. In response to the high number of fires, the department has launched public awareness campaigns focused on educating the community about fire prevention, the importance of safety measures, and appropriate actions to take during a fire.
