According to data available on the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department’s forest fire reporting portal, only 66 forest fire incidents have been recorded across the state so far this summer, affecting around 460.2 hectares of forest area. The figures are substantially lower compared to previous years, when prolonged dry spells and rising temperatures triggered widespread fires across the hill state.
Among the state’s 10 forest circles, the Nahan circle has emerged as the worst affected, recording 24 fire incidents that damaged nearly 264.8 hectares of forest land. The Mandi circle reported 19 incidents affecting around 110.2 hectares, while the Dharamsala circle witnessed only 11 incidents with nearly 32.8 hectares affected.
Among other circles, the Wildlife (South) circle reported four incidents, Shimla three, while Chamba, Great Himalayan National Park, Hamirpur, Rampur and Solan recorded one incident each.
Notably, the hill state has received nearly 8 per cent surplus rainfall so far this month, with 37.3 mm precipitation recorded against the normal average of 34.5 mm. Some districts witnessed exceptionally high rainfall departures, with Una recording 145 per cent surplus rainfall, followed by Sirmaur at 111 per cent and Kangra at 107 per cent above normal. Frequent showers have helped keep forest floors moist, preventing the rapid spread of fires that typically engulf large stretches of forests during summer.
The official forest fire season in Himachal extends from April 15 to June 15, a period considered highly vulnerable because of dry vegetation, accumulation of pine needles and hot winds. Forest fires are particularly common in lower and mid-hill regions dominated by chir pine forests, where resin-rich pine needles catch fire easily and spread flames rapidly across steep terrain.
Forest officials said the actual ecological damage caused by fires is assessed after the monsoon season, when the impact on vegetation, wildlife habitats and soil stability becomes more visible.
During the 2025-26 financial year, Himachal recorded 559 forest fire incidents, of which 276 occurred during the critical summer fire season. The year 2024-25 was the worst in recent years, with a total of 2,613 forest fire incidents, including 2,433 during the summer window alone.
Apart from destroying trees and vegetation, forest fires also result in loss of biodiversity, depletion of soil nutrients and increased carbon emissions. Fires frequently threaten wildlife habitats and nearby habitations, besides causing severe air pollution in hill districts.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Dharamsala Circle, Basu Kaushal said the department begins preparedness activities from March as the risk of fires increases with rising temperatures. She said along with favourable weather conditions, awareness campaigns conducted by the department had also contributed significantly to reducing fire incidents.
“The focus has been on community awareness and staff preparedness. Panchayats, schools and colleges are being involved to sensitise people about the environmental and economic damage caused by forest fires,” she said.
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