According to the Mehrnews, Reza Mohammadi, the governor of Kalibar, announced on Thursday evening that the timely presence of rescue forces, the protection unit, and local residents helped prevent the spread of the fire to other sensitive areas of the forest, allowing the blaze to be contained within a seven-hectare area. He emphasized the necessity of protecting national territories and natural resources, stating that the primary priority in this incident was to prevent the fire from spreading and to safeguard the region’s biodiversity, which was achieved through collaboration and synergy among executive agencies and local communities.
The governor of Kalibar highlighted the environmental significance of Arasbaran National Park, noting that this area is a valuable natural and global asset. He stressed that its protection cannot be accomplished solely within the framework of administrative duties and requires public participation and responsibility. Hatem Shirjang, the head of Arasbaran National Park, also provided details about the incident, stating that the area affected by the fire was estimated to be around seven hectares, and the firefighting operations were successfully concluded after several hours of efforts by the forces present in the region.
He added that the fire was reported by local residents at 10:30 AM on Thursday and was completely contained by around 3 PM with the presence of environmental protection forces, rescue teams, and the participation of local communities. The head of Arasbaran National Park noted that after the fire was contained, the teams assessed the affected area for potential fire hotspots and conducted monitoring and patching operations in areas susceptible to reignition to prevent the return of the fire.
Shirjang emphasized the role of the public in preventing forest fires, urging citizens, tourists, and users of natural areas to refrain from lighting fires in forested and pasture areas. He advised that if it is necessary to light a fire, it should only be done in safe and controlled locations. He also warned against discarding cigarette butts, glass bottles, and other flammable materials in nature, stating that these items could become a catalyst for igniting or spreading fires under suitable conditions. The head of Arasbaran National Park urged the public to report any signs of smoke or fire in natural areas to the environmental protection unit or rescue teams as quickly as possible to enable a rapid response and prevent the spread of the fire.
