Tandin Nye forest fire
Tandin Nye forest fire
23 April 2009
published by www.kuenselonline.com
Bhutan — Forestry officials in Thimphu are still investigating the extent of damage caused by the forest fire that razed blue pine forest above the Tandin Nye, Thimphu, for two days.
The fire started around 1:30 pm on Sunday by a labourer trying to join a broken water pipe using fire to heat the two ends. Officials say the fire was left unattended and that it spread within minutes, fanned by the fierce afternoon wind.
The labourer was arrested for questioning.
Forestry officials said that the fire could not be brought under control because of the difficult terrain, thick dry vegetation and also because firefighters could not reach the spot on time. Hundreds of volunteers, mainly from the armed forces and local people, joined forestry officials in fighting the fire. The fire was put out completely at around 6:30 on Monday.
