Fire breaks out near Darna village in Khodaafarin; 2-3 hectares affected

According to the Mehrnews, Ali Hosseinpour said on Thursday, in a discussion with reporters, that the fire started in the afternoon of Wednesday within the area near Darna village, a part of Khodaafarin County. He noted that, with timely intervention and joint efforts by personnel from natural resources and the environment, along with local volunteers, the blaze was fully brought under control by Thursday.

Referring to the extent of the damage, he added that, based on initial estimates, approximately 2 to 3 hectares of the region’s forest and rangeland areas were affected by the incident.

The head of the Department of Environmental Protection in Khodaafarin stated that expert assessments are underway to determine the exact cause of the fire, and that no specific findings have been reported so far. He said the final results will be announced after the completion of the investigations.

Hosseinpour, while thanking local residents for their cooperation in containing the blaze, emphasized that prompt public reporting and participation play a crucial role in reducing environmental losses. He said that the timely presence of local volunteers prevented the fire from spreading further.

He also urged citizens and tourists to refrain from lighting fires in natural areas and, if it is necessary, to ensure the fire is completely extinguished before leaving the site.

Hosseinpour further warned against discarding cigarette butts, flammable waste, and glass bottles in nature, saying these are among the most common causes of fires in natural environments.

With emphasis on the importance of prevention, he added that restoring damaged soil and vegetation can take years, and that the most effective way to protect these valuable areas is to prevent wildfires from occurring in the first place.