VALPOI
Even as authorities claimed there were no active fires in Sattari, the forest department is keeping a close watch to ensure that fires do not recur at various sites in the taluka.
According to information, 30 personnel from the Forest Department have been deployed at the Derode Hill to monitor if any fresh fire breaks out.
Several locals in Derode along with forest teams had been working hard in the past few days to extinguish the fire, given the difficulties in gaining access to the site. Navy helicopters also sprayed water as part of the firefighting operations.
There are concerns that strong winds in the area could lead to fresh fires.
When contacted, DCF Anand Jadhav said the possibility of a fresh fire cannot be ruled out and said a team of 30 forest staff have been deployed at the site.
“The team is doing everything possible and efforts have been made to extinguish the fire with the help of Navy helicopters in places which are inaccessible to the forest teams,” said Jadhav.
More staff are expected to be deployed on Wednesday and several locals from Derode are also expected to volunteer to visit the sites accessible on foot and to prevent the possibility of a fresh fire.
