January 7, 2025
THIMPHU – A massive fire has burned nearly 1,000 acres of forest in Naro gewog, Thimphu, and destroyed four traditional houses, though no casualties have been reported.
The fire, which broke out around 11 am on January 4 in Barshong village, quickly spread beyond the control of the local villagers.
According to Naro Gup Gyem Tshering, the fire is believed to have been ignited when a branch struck an electric pole during strong winds. “Most of the affected homes were unoccupied, but we managed to salvage some belongings from all but one house,” he said.
To ensure safety of women and children, they were evacuated to safer locations, while one man from each household remained behind to assist the police and forest officials in controlling the fire.
“The steep terrain and gusty winds made it difficult to contain the fire. The wind was calm during the first night, which helped bring the flames under control, but it reignited the following morning with harsh gusts and extreme heat,” the Gup said.
A team of Desuups, Royal Bhutan Police, forest officials, and local villagers is on site, working to prevent the fire from spreading further.
Despite their efforts, officials say they cannot guarantee when the fire will be fully contained.
The firefighting team has been relying on soil and limited water supplies to combat the flames. The dry winter season has made water scarce in the village, exacerbating the challenge.
While the fire is currently under control, as of last evening, officials warn that the risk remains high. The threat of falling stones and debris could potentially trigger new fires, complicating containment efforts.
Gup Gyem Tshering said that discussions had previously been held about measures to prevent such incidents, including using trees as a barrier around electric wires and poles. However, the plan was not implemented due to the large number of trees required.
Currently, Barshong gewog has around 60-70 residents and 76 households.
The Department of Forest and Park Services reported that in 2023, 72 incidents were recorded, resulting in 24,856 acres of land being burned. By mid-2024, 22 incidents had been recorded, with 905 acres affected.