The wild fire that engulfed Vayad and nearby agricultural lands in Narippatta Grama Panchayat in upland Kozhikode, on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) evening, has been brought under control. The fire was spotted in the reserve forest land in south Vayad around 6 p.m. on Tuesday. The fire spread fast across the grasslands and later was carried by the wind into the agricultural lands with rubber and cashew cultivation.
The local people informed the fire services soon enough. But they had to walk for around 4 km from Vilangad town to the location of the fire. Meanwhile, the local people tried their best to prevent the spread of the fire. They tried to douse the fire by beating it with green shrubs. The fire spread quicly due to the dry leaves in the area.
However, the fire was doused around midnight by the combined effort of the fire services and local people.
The extent of the damage is yet to be determined. “This kind of fire happens here every year. It did not affect agriculture much”, Shaju Tom Plakkal, the councillor of Payyekkandi ward of Narippatta Grama Panchayat, where the fire took place, told The Hindu.
Local people confirmed that wildfires were common in the grasslands of the forest at this time of the year, and that the speed of the wind determined its spread.
Published – February 12, 2025 12:30 pm IST
