SOUTH WAZIRISTAN/BAJAUR: Hundreds of precious trees were reduced to ashes when fire broke out in Kot Kunr forest mountain of Wana in Lower South Waziristan district on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses said that the fire was spreading rapidly, engulfing a significant portion of the mountain. The teams of Rescue 1122 and forest departments were trying to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

Rescue officials said that they were facing difficulties in controlling the fire due to high altitude. They said that despite difficulties, they were making concerted efforts to control the fire and prevent further destruction.

Locals feared that the fire could engulf the entire mountain if it was not extinguished. They urged authorities to expedite efforts to prevent any catastrophic.

The additional deputy commissioner issued instructions to officials concerned to utilise all available resources to extinguish the fire.

In Bajaur, scores of precious trees and plants were destroyed when a forest in a mountain caught fire in the hilly area of Salarzai tehsil.

Locals and Rescue 1122 officials said on Sunday the fire in Taripa Shah Litai natural forest was put out after hectic efforts of four hours. They said that 70 to 80 villagers rushed to the area when they saw smoke billowing from the mountain.

However, they failed to put out the fire owing to lack of proper tools and expertise. The villagers tried their best to control the fire but they were unable to do so. The fire destroyed a number of trees and plants in the mountain.

Rescue 1122 officials confirmed eruption of fire in the forest and claimed that it was controlled after hectic efforts of four hours.

A statement, issued by Rescue 1122 spokesperson Riaz Ahmed Khan, said that soon after receiving information about eruption of fire in Taripa Shah Litai mountain a team of eight fire fighters along with necessary equipments was instantly dispatched to the area.

The fire fighters, accompanied by scores of locals, put out the fire successfully.

The cause of the fire was yet to be known. No loss of human and wild life was reported in the incident.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2025