Team Herald
MARGAO: Forest fires raged in the hills of Durga-Chinchinim, Sarzora and Dramapur villages in Salcete on Wednesday.
In Chinchinim, Sarpanch Valentino Barretto, local panch Gerson Gomes and MLA Cruz Silva rushed to the site as the first priority was to save the houses of locals living nearby. The fire brigade and Cuncolim police managed to put out the fire. While the houses were saved, there was significant damage to the hill, with trees and vegetation also getting burnt.Later in the afternoon, a fire was reported in Sarzora.
Fire personnel found it tough to access the hillock initially due to the thorny bushes but managed to douse most of the fire by later evening.
Eleuterio Carneiro, member of the Navelim biodiversity management committee (BMC), who called the fire brigade, expressed concern about the damage to flora and fauna and said he had seen rabbits scurrying to safety.
At night, there was a fire atop the Dramapur hill. Carneiro explained that these hills are located nearby and called the Forest Department to assist as they wanted to prevent any casualties as there are leopards in the Sarzora hills.
Fire personnel used blowers to contain the fire at these sites. They said that these outbreaks of wildfires in the hills should stop once the weather cools down.