Fire destroys 10 acres of Forest Reserve in Siparia

Residents of Marray Trace, Siparia spent the Carnival weekend cleaning soot and ash from their windows and furniture following a massive bush — fire which ravaged the 10 acres of forest reserve in their area.

According to a resident of the area, Kishan Ramkalawan, the fire started  on Carnival Sunday and spread through the area within a short space of time. Fire fighters from the Penal Fire Department spent hours on Sunday clearing the bushes and wetting the houses in order to  keep flames from spreading. The forested area which is protected by the State is known to breed such animals as deer, monkeys, squirrels, manicou, lizards, tattoo, ant eaters, iguanas, snakes, and birds such as the Scarlet Ibis, Water Crow, Blue Gene, Scarlet Ibis and the Parakeet. These endangered species are seen on the age old trees that occupy this forest area.

Ramkalawan told Newsday that during the course of the night, trees were heard falling from the distant forest. “The fire has been penetrating the dry twigs in the ground and while many believe that the flames have gone completely out, this is not the case. The fire starts again and then we see smoke from the deep forest,” he said. He noted that while hunting in these areas has been prohibited, the forest fire destroyed most of the wildlife that had been living there for many years. Citrus farmer of the area, Tony Nandlal, said that while his crop was not affected by the flames, he is worried about the river which is the source of water for his crops. “The fire destroyed the plants and trees, which surround the river and as a result of this, the river banks are now weak with no roots to hold up and anytime there is any sort of flooding the river will burst and there will be more flooding in the area,” he said.