Wild fire destroys 5 acres along Dodabetta slopes near Ooty

Ooty: A forest fire charred nearly five acres of revenue forest along the Dodabetta slopes near here on Sunday night, as foresters fought a battle for long hours late into the to douse the fire to check its spread to the nearby reserve forest area.

While good rains in the upper reaches of the hills here on Saturday was considered as a blessing in disguise to keep wild fire under check, unfortunately, on Sunday night, wild fire broke out in Mynalai junction along the eastern side of the Dodabetta slopes near here and charred nearly five acres.

Residents in Mynalai village limits said the wild fire broke out along the dried grass cover in revenue forest lands in the vicinity and spread at a fast pace. Firemen and forest fire fighting teams rushed to the spot on Sunday night and fought a battle that prolonged well after midnight in the challenging mountain terrain.

Stating that only Revenue forests in the vicinity were destroyed by the wild fire, Mr. Saravanakumar, assistant conservator of Forests here, said that the forest teams planned meticulously to check the spread of the forest fire into the nearby reserve forest area. Forest fire watchers are monitoring the situation.  He solicited cooperation from the public and tourists to prevent wildfire in the back drop of the prevailing dry weather in the hills.