Fires in Northeast Iran
Fires in Northeast Iran
21 November 2010
Forest fires burning in Golestan Province, Islamic Republic of Iran. The overview satellite image (MODIS Aqua, 500 m resolution) shows the location of the mountain and forest range in Golestan Province, which is bordering the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan. Source: NASA.
Close-up maps of Goleastan Province, Iran.
Close-up of MODIS scene on Thursday, 18 November 2010
Close-up of MODIS scene on Friday, 19 November 2010
Close-up of MODIS scene on Sunday, 21 November 2010. Wildfire smoke is not visible in todays satellite image (250 m resolution)
Latest news from Tehran Times (21 November 2010):
Forest fire still raging in north Iran
GORGAN, Golestan Province — A forest fire which broke out in the northeast province of Golestan on Thursday is still raging, having burned its way through at least 200 hectares so far. The fire broke out at 10:30 a.m. local time. More than 600 firefighters have been called in to perform the burn-out operation, an official of the crisis management organization told ISNA on Saturday. Two fire-fighting helicopters have been dispatched to the scene and two more helicopters were to be sent from Tehran to help extinguish the fire. According to the official no one has been injured in the fire and damages could be assessed only after the operation is completed. He said wind and weather condition have made it difficult to put out the fire. Another environmental official also told ISNA on Saturday that the main cause of the fire has not been determined yet and predicted that the fire would be contained by Sunday. Wildfire has destroyed habitat of animals. According to the Mehr News Agency, the fire has endangered the lives of various species of birds, animals and reptiles inhabiting the forest. Local people say that they have seen the charred bodies of some animals like snakes, turtles, frogs, and foxes
News report about the fires in Iran, published by Trend (Azerbaijan):
Firemen face difficulties when extinguishing forest fire in Iran
Azerbaijan, Baku, 20 November 2010 / T. Jafarov /
In Iran, firemen faced difficulties when extinguishing the forest fire that broke out on Thursday at 10:30 in the Iranian province of Gulistan, Iranian İSNA news agency reported.
“At the moment, 600 peoples and two fire-fighting helicopters are trying to extinguish the fire. Mountains, where the territory covered by the fire is located, as well as wind prevent extinguishing the fire,” Rasul Khisam, the head of the Emergency Situations Organization of the Iranian province of Gulistan said.
According to him, two more helicopters will be sent to extinguish the fire at the scene.
Khisam said no fire victim is reported. The damage caused by fire, may be counted only after its extinguishing.
The Gulistan Province is located in northeast of Iran. The center of this province is the Gorgan city. In the north the province borders with Turkmenistan, in the west with the Caspian Sea. About 60-70 percent of the province’s population is Turkmen. A small amount of Azeri Turks (about 100,000 people of Qajar nationality), Kazakhs and others live here.
Photos of the Golestan Forest Fire in North Iran
© by Aboutaleb Nadri, Mehr News Agency
A forest fire which broke out in the northeast province of Golestan on Thursday November 20th is still not under control, having burned its way through hundreds of hectares. According to the Mehr News Agency, the fire has also endangered the lives of various species of birds, animals and reptiles inhabiting the forest. Local people say that they have seen the charred bodies of some animals like snakes, turtles, frogs, and foxes.
